Workshop Magazine: Issue 25

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ISSUE 25 | OCTOBER 2017

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Y S A E P V E Frankfurt Motor Show s r’ yea s thi at n see as – s icle veh d ifie ctr ele to ide gu ate im Your ult A BENTLEY IN BITS!

The astonishing story of a classic old car that was rebuilt from scratch

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EDITORIAL HEAD OF EDITORIAL REBECCA CHAPLIN

rebecca@blackballmedia.co.uk Twitter: @believebecca

CONTENTS.

12

10

PRODUCTION EDITOR DAVE BROWN

dave@blackballmedia.co.uk Twitter: @CarDealerDave

FEATURES EDITOR JACK EVANS

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SENIOR STAFF WRITER DARREN CASSEY

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STAFF WRITER SIMON DAVIS

simon.davis@blackballmedia.co.uk Twitter: @SimonDavisNZ

HEAD OF DESIGN GRAEME WINDELL

graeme@blackballmedia.co.uk Twitter: @graemewindell

Well done, Emily! Teenager becomes first female apprentice at National Motor Museum

46

Our Kev: The baffling government MOT ruling that could be a matter of life or death

ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER JON HICKEY

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Workshop Magazine Awards: Time is running out if you want to nominate or enter!

30

The Judge delivers his verdict on the problems you have sent in

28

36

On test: Gloves and trolley jacks

Motorbiking mechanics on tour: Meet Andy and Sean, two intrepid travellers on a global journey

ACCOUNT MANAGER TOM ADAMS

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33

New products: All the latest gear

Welcome

THIS month’s issue of Workshop Magazine has got a lot for you to get your teeth into! Whether you’re into your classics, the latest tech or you’re just here to find out what new kit you should be buying for your toolbox – we’ve got it all.

Last month, I went to the Frankfurt Motor Show to seek out the greatest new cars coming to roads near you. But this year’s event was just as much about what was underneath the bonnets of the cars on display as their outward appearances – the theme was ‘Future Now’ and carmakers were keen to show off their exciting new powertrains and technology.

Turn to p23 to see what we decided were our top 10 electrified cars in Frankfurt, and find out how likely it is that they’ll make it on to the highways and byways of Britain.

I had to do quite a bit of walking around the motor show to compile that feature – but my colleague Darren Cassey has had a far more relaxing time of it lately, managing as he did to get behind the wheel of the new

Lexus LC500h at its recent launch event. The hybrid car has a special new transmission designed to avoid the traditional problems of a CVT. Find out how well it works in his analysis on pages 18-19.

Elsewhere, Tristan Shale-Hester tells us a particularly curious Bentley-related tale. It’s one unlike any I’ve heard before – the owner had broken a vintage model down into its component parts and stored them around his house. Find out what happened next on p20.

For the first time in Workshop Magazine, we’re including the story of two mechanics who have packed in their jobs to ride around the world on motorbikes from the ’90s. Unsurprisingly, a few things have gone wrong already! We’ll be keeping you up to date on their adventures every month, so stay tuned.

As always, I hope you enjoy the issue.

Rebecca Chaplin, Head of Editorial WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

| 03

NEWS.

IT’S ALL CHANGE! CARS OVER 40 INVESTIGATION Most people didn’t want it but it’s on the way anyhow – a new rule that will exempt thousands of cars from annual roadworthiness examinations. Rebecca Chaplin reports.

C

ars that have been registered for more than 40 years will no longer require an MOT from next year.

Draft guidance has been issued, following an extensive consultation last year about exempting such vehicles from roadworthiness testing.

It is set to come into force on May 20, 2018 – despite most of the consultation respondents being against the proposal.

What will this mean for workshops, though?

Some 197,000 vehicles are currently exempt from MOT testing, according to the Department for Transport, which said that by implementing the new measure around 293,000 more vehicles would not have to undergo an annual MOT test.

That’s a huge reduction in work for mechanics, although the government has recommended that older cars are still regularly checked by a garage.

A few criteria must still be met, too. For example, to be eligible for exemption, a vehicle can’t be a kit car or conversion, be drastically modified, be on a ‘Q’ registration plate, or weigh 15 per cent more or less than its original design.

In his foreword to the consultation’s

04 | WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

conclusion, Jesse Norman, parliamentary under secretary of state for roads, local transport and devolution, wrote: ‘After considering the responses, we have decided to exempt most vehicles over 40 years old from the requirement for annual roadworthiness testing.

‘This includes lighter vehicles (such as cars and motorcycles) and larger vehicles such as buses which are not used commercially.

‘Heavy goods vehicles and public service vehicles falling under operator licensing regulations will remain within the scope of roadworthiness testing. This will ensure a proportionate approach to testing for older vehicles, which works for public safety and vehicle owners.’

He added: ‘Vehicles that have been substantially changed, regardless of their age, will not be exempt from annual roadworthiness testing. We do not propose to set out in legislation a definition of “substantial change” but will be including this in guidance so that it can remain more flexible and responsive.

‘The exact wording for this guidance will be

discussed with stakeholders and relevant bodies and published subsequently.’

The Department for Transport began the consultation for making cars that were more than 40 years old MOT-exempt last September.

The government said it considered that cars of that age were usually well maintained, used less frequently on generally shorter trips and that the modern MOT was no longer relevant.

The consultation reads: ‘From May 20, 2018 most of these vehicles will not need a valid MOT certificate to be used on public roads. You still need to keep the vehicle in a roadworthy condition and can voluntarily have a test. We recommend continued regular maintenance and checks of the vehicle.

‘You need to check whether the vehicle has been substantially altered since 1988, checking against the criteria. If it has been altered substantially a valid MOT certificate will continue to be required.

‘If you are unsure, check, for example with a qualified mechanic or expert on historic vehicles.

If you buy a vehicle, we also recommend checking with the previous owner if you can.’

YEARS OLD WON’T NEED MOTs The overall consultation, which ran until November, received 2,217 responses from owners, car clubs, businesses, plus trade and business bodies, among others. A total of 899 respondents were in favour of the exemption for vehicles older than 40 years, while 1,130 opposed it, with the chief argument against the exemption being ‘that all vehicles travelling on the highway should have an annual test for safety reasons’.

In the government’s response to the consultation, Norman said: ‘We will bring forward amending legislation to put the decisions set out in this document into effect.’

The introduction of this legislation has happened while we are still waiting for news on whether cars will no longer need to be checked at three years old, instead waiting until their fourth.

With cars more than 40 years old also no longer legally needing an MOT, it causes concern at both ends of the spectrum.

Earlier in the year, Wendy Williamson, IAAF chief executive, said: ‘In recent years, the MOT testing frequency has been subject to much debate. The IAAF’s stance has always been that DVSA’s regulation of the MOT process and current testing frequency of 3:1:1 helps to make

the UK’s roads the safest in Europe and we will fight any detrimental changes vigorously.’

In the consultation process, the main argument against the exemption was that all vehicles travelling on the highway should have an annual test for safety reasons.

It’s something that even classic car owners have argued for, with many feeling that regular MOTs are necessary to ensure the quality and safety levels of cars on our roads.

Graham Searle, general manager at the Jaguar Enthusiasts’ Club, said: ‘Personally, we are against [the increased level of exemptions] because we feel an MOT is a good independent check, and what worries us is that if people with pre-1978 cars haven’t had their cars serviced, any problems won’t get pulled up in the MOT. It’s a grey area.

‘If cars are included up to 1978, the risk is greater because of the sheer volume of cars which now fall into this bracket.

‘Also, ’70s cars are also not always enthusiastowned, like cars from the ’60s or earlier are.

‘We strongly feel the independent check is necessary.’

David Hollis, a spokesman for the British Mini Club, said: ‘It’s a good and bad thing, really.

“

‘Most people who own a vintage car baby it, and will go to extra lengths to take care of it, so in the majority of cases, there’s little to worry about.

DAVID HOLLIS

‘Most people who own a vintage car baby it, and will go to extra lengths to take care of it, so in the majority of cases, there’s little to worry about.

‘It does potentially open the door for poor examples of vehicles to return to the roads though, which although may be small in number can still be potentially dangerous.’

With around half a million cars to be classed as exempt from next March, let us know what you think. Will it have an impact on your garage and can we trust classic car drivers to keep their cars in shape?

Our Kev has his say, p46

“

We have decided to exempt most vehicles over 40 years old from the requirement for annual roadworthiness testing.

JESSE NORMAN

WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

| 05

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NEWS. | WRITE-OFFS |

NEWS ROUND-UP. What’s been making the headlines at workshops around the United Kingdom?

STAFFS:

An appeal has been launched to replace £10,000-worth of tools that were stolen from a mechanic. Shaun Stonier, 47, who is the director of car repair and maintenance centre Peak Tec in Leek, usually keeps his tools at his workshop but locked them in his van outside his home in Stoke on August 22 because he had an early-morning job to go to the next day. However, after Stonier went to bed, police arrived at his house to tell him his van had been broken into. Officers are urging witnesses to call 101 and quote incident 977.

ABERDEEN:

John Clark Motor Group has achieved growth in turnover for the 11th consecutive year across each of its service workshops, accident repair centres and parts operations. During the course of 2016, overall turnover for the company, whose registered office is in Aberdeen, grew by five per cent to £703 million. Profit before tax, at 1.2 per cent of sales, remained above the UK motor trade average.

Group chairman John Clark said: ‘Our aftersales operations continue to get stronger.’

WORCS:

Redditch United midfielder Arjun Jung (AJ) is to become Trico’s football ambassador. AJ will assist stadium sponsor Trico and its guests throughout the season’s campaign, to ensure they receive the full matchday experience. In his role, he will also represent the wiper blade specialists at other company events.

Since signing for Redditch last season, Jung has established himself as an important player for The Reds. Trico’s European marketing manager, Sam Robinson, said: ‘We are looking forward to working closely with AJ.’

HAMPSHIRE:

The family and friends of a Hampshire mechanic gave him a very special send-off after he died recently. Terry Layton had run the Village Garage in Colden Common for 40 years and his funeral featured a procession of dozens of classic cars and motorcycles.

The car used as Mr Layton’s hearse was a 1936 RollsRoyce. Tom Layton, Terry’s son, told the Hampshire Chronicle he would always have fond memories of his father surrounded by cars and memorabilia, working at the garage.

Updated salvage code will give more information to buyers THE RULES for insuring writeoffs are being updated for the benefit of second-hand car buyers who are looking at purchasing salvaged vehicles.

The Salvage Code received an update on October 1 meaning structurally damaged cars that have undergone repairs will have a new ‘S’ marking on their V5C registration certificates, giving customers a new way of finding out the vehicle’s history.

The symbol will indicate that the customer needs to organise a vehicle inspection or use a professional car history checking service to ensure the car has been adequately repaired.

Graham McNulty, National Police Chief Council lead for motor vehicle crime, said: ‘I welcome the measures taken in the new code with regard to the categorisation of vehicle salvage.

‘These steps will not only protect the public further through the additional safeguards preventing unsafe vehicles returning to the road, but also help to detect and deter criminal activity.

‘The codes will provide consumers with further peace of mind regarding the provenance of a vehicle.’

Ben Howarth, senior policy adviser for motor and liability at the Association of British Insurers, said: ‘Not all insurance write-offs need to be taken off the road forever. The new Salvage Code should mean there is better information for anyone considering a second-hand car, so you know what questions to ask.’

| DENSO |

New sensors will help winter trade NORFOLK:

Blair Wilson, a driving instructor from Norwich, has won the ideal prize for his motoring school car – a set of red AlloyGators to protect his alloy wheels. The AlloyGators were fitted to his Citroen C3 at Citroen and Seat dealership Duff Morgan in Norwich. Blair won the alloy wheel protection system following a competition in which AlloyGator asked motorists to send in photos of their damaged alloys.

Blair said: ‘I’m sure the AlloyGators will help prolong the life of my wheels.’

DENSO has announced the addition of 10 Camshaft and Crankshaft Position Sensors to its existing collection, helping the aftermarket to boost sales in time for winter by improving injection and ignition controls for customers.

The five new DENSO Crankshaft Position Sensors have 129 unique applications across the Toyota and Lexus range incorporating both past and present vehicle models. The eight new DENSO Camshaft Position Sensors have 119 applications across the same vehicle pool.

WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

| 07

ACADEMY

of Automotive Skills

08 | WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

NEWS.

Charles and Camilla with apprentices at Emergency One PICTURE: ANDREW MILLIGAN/PA WIRE

| CONTRACT |

Founder of Euro Car Parts continues as executive chairman EURO Car Parts founder Sukhpal Singh Ahluwalia is extending his contract with the business for three years as executive chairman of parent company LKQ’s operations in the UK and Republic of Ireland.

Martin Gray, chief executive of Euro Car Parts, which was established in 1978, said: ‘It’s been a landmark three years for ECP, and Sukhpal has again played a pivotal role in helping to drive the business forward.

‘Over that time, we’ve seen a number of acquisitions, as well as the continuing growth of the core business.

On top of that, our branches across the UK are starting to see the significance of our investment in the new T2 national distribution centre at Tamworth.

‘Sukhpal is an inspirational leader and mentor, and one of the most successful entrepreneurs of our generation. It’s fantastic that we will continue to benefit from his tenacity, experience and commercial acumen.’

Ahluwalia, who is also a member of LKQ Corporation’s board of directors, said: ‘Euro Car Parts is nothing without its customers, employees and suppliers, both long-standing and recent.

‘Many of those relationships go back decades and it is a privilege to see them continue. I look forward to another exciting three years with the company, as we strive to offer a groundbreaking, innovative service to our client base.’

LKQ bought Euro Car Parts in 2011 for an initial price of £225 million, with the figure increasing by up to £55 million if it met certain growth targets in 2012 and 2013.

A Royal appointment for emergency vehicles firm Charles and Camilla visit company that works with fire and rescue services across the UK

T

he Duchess of Rothesay sat behind the wheel of a £260,000 fire engine when she joined husband Prince Charles on a tour of a company that produces emergency vehicles.

Charles and Camilla visited Emergency One, which manufactures fleets of emergency vehicles for fire and rescue services across the UK. During their short tour of the company based in Cumnock, East Ayrshire, the couple chatted to some of the firm’s 180 employees, including 30 apprentices.

The company works with the Prince’s Trust, taking on young people though its training courses and offering apprenticeships for

by TRISTAN SHALE-HESTER @tristan_shale auto electricians, coach builders, mechanical fitters and painters.

Camilla, who is known as the Duchess of Rothesay in Scotland but the Duchess of Cornwall elsewhere, was invited into the driving seat of a fire engine and shown how to switch on its lights and siren.

The couple saw how the vehicles began their journey as a basic shell before the interiors were filled with vital fire-fighting equipment.

They also saw engineers, electricians and coach builders completing the vehicles at the plant.

Camilla toured one side of the

vast garage while Charles chatted to workers and apprentices on the other. Gavin Walker, 19, a first-year apprentice from nearby Auchinleck, said: ‘He was just asking me how long I’d been here and how I’d picked up the skills.

‘He was civil and nice and was interested in what I did.’

Among the others to whom the couple spoke was Leeona McEwan, 18, a second-year apprentice from Kilmarnock. She said: ‘There are three women in total, but I’m the only apprentice.

‘Camilla was saying to me that it was good that I was a woman in a man’s world. She was asking me how I was treated and what I did.’

Get ready for rise in voice searches, says Dragon2000 WORKSHOPS are being encouraged to ensure their website content is of the highest quality to capitalise on the rise in the popularity of voice searches.

The advice comes from the dealer management system, website and mobile app business Dragon2000.

The company pointed out that these days, virtually all smartphones and tablets offered voice recognition – and that this was driving a surge in consumers using their voices to search the web. It added that cross-

platform media measurement and analytics firm Comscore predicts that 50 per cent of all searches will be voice searches by 2020.

Mark Kelland, commercial manager at Dragon2000, said: ‘Voice search is changing the way users interact with their devices. Garages and workshops need to ensure they have quality content on their websites so that consumers are more likely to find them when they embark on a search, whether by voice or by typing into a search engine.

‘While consumers might type in two or three keywords into a search engine, when doing a voice search via Siri or Google Voice, etc., they would tend to speak in complete sentences and talk to the search engine the same way they would speak to a person.

‘To make website content voice search-friendly, garages and workshops should include content that is made up of engaging, readable sentences that are relevant for their business, rather than just keywords.’

WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

| 09

AWARDS.

DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES IS NOT FAR AWAY !

The inaugural Workshop Magazine Awards take place on Monday, December 11 – and we’re accepting entries until October 31. Dave Brown explains more.

T

here’s still time to enter the inaugural Workshop Magazine Awards – but you’ll have to hurry as the closing date for entries is approaching fast! In fact, we are only accepting entries and nominations until Tuesday, October 31 so there’s no time to lose!

As we’ve mentioned before on these pages, the awards take place at The Brewery in London on Monday, December 11 and follow in the footsteps of the Used Car Awards, which have been held each year since 2013 and continue to be massively popular. The Used Car Awards are organised

by Workshop’s sister publication Car Dealer Magazine and keep growing every year!

The two evenings are very similar in format, with a wide variety of categories you can enter or be nominated for. And we can’t emphasise it enough – it could be YOU walking to the stage to pick up a gong from our host for the evening, Johnny Herbert (see below). Full details of all the categories can be found online by going to the link at the bottom of this page.

A definite highlight of the evening will be when we name the winners in the Independent

Garage of the Year category. Five regional champions will be crowned with separate awards for Scotland, Northern Ireland, Northern England, Southern England and Wales.

Our winners here will have undergone a rigorous judging process involving analysis of feedback websites and mystery shopping.

Then, from those five, we will be crowning our overall winner and naming our UK-wide Independent Garage of the Year. This really will be something to shout about!

There are plenty of other categories to go for, too. Could your place of work be good enough to be crowned Tyre Retailer of the Year? Classic Car Restoration Garage of the Year perhaps? Or MOT Centre of the Year?

You’ve got to be in it to win it! And we’ll be honouring talented and hard-working individuals within our sector too. Do you know someone who deserves the title Workshop Manager of the Year? Technician of the Year? Or Apprentice of the Year? Please do get involved with the awards – and join us at The Brewery on December 11 for what promises to be a very special evening.

The Brewery has it all as a venue for the inaugural Workshop Awards!

Bring it on! First Workshop Awards night will be fantastic!

HERE at Workshop Magazine, we can’t wait for the first Workshop Awards night!

We’ve been delighted by the way the car dealers of the UK have taken the Used Car Awards to their hearts and we’re sure service and repair professionals will embrace the awards scheme we are running for their sector in the same way.

As we’ve mentioned before, our host on our

Workshop Awards night of December 11 will be none other than motorsport legend Johnny Herbert, pictured left. Not only is he a former winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, he is also among an exclusive club of British drivers to have enjoyed a successful career in Formula 1.

If you’re triumphant on the night we’ll pull out all the stops to give you the credit you deserve, with

extensive coverage of the event in our magazine and video interviews as well. To be in the running, and as we explain above, you’ll need to put yourself forward or be nominated by a colleague, supplier or customer. It’s as simple as that.

Rebecca Chaplin, editor of Workshop Magazine, said: ‘The ceremony itself will be a fantastic occasion and we’re really looking forward to it.’

TO ENTER, FILL OUT THE FORM ONLINE AT bit.ly/WA-2017

10 | WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

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| 11

| CRIME |

Garage ‘limping on’ after burglary A WORCESTERSHIRE garage and MOT testing station targeted by burglars says it is ‘limping on’ and has praised other workshops for their help.

Badham Motors, in Honeybourne, Evesham, lost diagnostic equipment, tools and computers, as well as having two key presses plus its entrance door and frame damaged over the weekend of September 2 and 3.

Owner Samantha Badham told the Evesham Observer: ‘We’re open for business as usual but we’re limping on.

The burglary really has hampered us but local garages have been really kind and lent us computers so that we can carry on. What’s happened has really highlighted the community spirit.’

New Master Coachmaker’s training pledge NEW Master Coachmaker Tony Edwards has vowed to continue a 340-year tradition of support for apprentices and young people – including those working in the automotive industry.

Speaking at his installation at the Worshipful Company of

Coachmakers and Coach Harness Makers, he said: ‘Every year, the Coachmakers Livery invests an increasing amount of money in young people. Last year it was £80,000. In previous years we have made awards to Royal College of Art students, one of whom became the

chief designer of Rolls-Royce and another who became the chief designer of Jaguar.’ Edwards called on his fellow Coachmakers for support to help the Coachmakers’ Trust, which funds the career development of young people.

New Beaulieu recruit Emily will help keep skills alive The guys are a welcoming bunch and I feel like part of the team, says keen apprentice, 18

| LUBRICANTS |

New range marks Elf’s 50th birthday TOTAL brand Elf is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a new trade range of lubricants.

The six-strong Elf SportI range complements Total’s existing premium range of Quartz lubricants, which it says already gives customers the benefits of manufacturer recommendations and partnerships.

Elf says the high-quality base oils and raw materials used in its SportI lubricants will keep engines clean and maintain performance without the need for the cutting-edge Age Resistance Technology that is used in Total’s Quartz range.

| PAGID |

Extended brake part range is launched PAGID has added 18 key product lines to its range, further expanding its aftermarket brake part coverage.

The OE brake pad manufacturer has introduced additions for the front axle of the Fiat 500, current Ford Mondeo V, S-Max and Galaxy, plus the Mk4 Vauxhall Corsa.

As well as the new brake pad offerings, Pagid has also developed new rear brake disc applications for the Porsche 911 (996 and 997), Lexus LS (L3 2000 to 2006) and the suite of Peugeot Expert, Citroen Dispatch, Fiat Scudo and Toyota Proace vans.

12 | WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

Emily has won praise for her enthusiasm and determination

T

he National Motor Museum at Beaulieu has appointed its first female workshop apprentice.

Emily Leese, 18, from North Baddesley, near Southampton, will help the museum’s experienced workshop team maintain and restore its collection of more than 250 historic vehicles.

The classic car fanatic, who has been a museum volunteer since she was 14, is starting a four-year apprenticeship, funded by members of museum trust support group The Beaulieu One Hundred.

Her training will be overseen by apprenticeship provider Heritage Skills Academy, which specialises in enabling trainees to work towards industry-standard qualifications as part of its Heritage Engineering

by REBECCA CHAPLIN @believebecca Apprenticeships programme, tailored to the specialist automotive restoration industry.

Spending most of her time in the museum workshop at Beaulieu to gain vital hands-on experience, Leese will also study the skills of the trade with Rolls-Royce and Bentley specialist P&A Wood in Essex as block release study, working towards Level 2 and 3 Diplomas in Classic Vehicle Restoration.

Funding for this block release part of her training will be covered by the Automotive Apprentice Bursary awarded by the Worshipful Company of Coachmakers and Coach Harness Makers of London (see story above).

Draper Tools has also given her a

comprehensive tool kit and chest.

Museum manager and chief engineer Doug Hill said: ‘Ever since Emily first visited us for work experience four years ago, I have been impressed by her enthusiasm and determination. I was the last apprentice to complete my training here at the National Motor Museum 40 years ago, so it makes me exceptionally proud to offer this opportunity to a new recruit.’

Leese said: ‘It’s good fun being in the workshop and getting involved.

All of the guys have been really good.

‘They’re a welcoming bunch, so I feel like part of the team and I’m really enjoying working here. I don’t know why I love cars so much but I have done so ever since I was about three. My parents aren’t into cars, so I guess it all came from me!’

PICTURE: SHARPPHOTO.CO.UK

NEWS.

Daniel Dunkley with Gorillaz guitarist and JLR ambassador Noodle

| AWARDS |

Three hopefuls for achievers ceremony NATIONWIDE Crash Repair Centres is crossing its fingers after securing three places in the finals of this year’s IMI Outstanding Achievers Awards.

The awards are to be held on October 17 at the IMI head office in Hertford, and Nationwide is hoping for a hat-trick after its Technical Training and Professional Development Academy was once again named as a finalist in the Specialist Centre of the Year category, having won the title for the past two years.

In addition, Richard Prior is a finalist as Outstanding Accredited Professional, while Reece Punter has been nominated as Outstanding Technical Student – Body Repair.

| REFRIGERANTS |

IMI stays cool with training by Bosch BOSCH has been chosen by the Institute of the Motor Industry to help provide its technicians with key training to assess air conditioning repairs and refrigerant handling.

It will give the required training to achieve the IMIAL Level 3 Award in Automotive Refrigerant Handling to a number of the IMI’s external quality assurers.

Bosch product manager Kevin Higgs said: ‘Repairs and servicing on vehicle air conditioning can be a complex task, so ensuring that technicians have the key skills for refrigerant handling is essential.’

You’re hired! Gorillaz app code-cracker lands JLR job High-tech recruitment challenge has been devised in search for ‘extraordinary people’

J

aguar Land Rover has hired the first of the next generation of electronics and software engineering geniuses via its code-breaking recruitment challenge within the Gorillaz app.

Daniel Dunkley, a 23-year-old from Gloucester, is the first successful code-breaker to join JLR and was due to start work on October 2 as a software engineer at Gaydon in Warwickshire. Having left school at 16, he was latterly working as a controls engineer at a quarry.

His coding and software skills are completely self-taught from an early interest in playing computer games at home with his older brother.

Dunkley said: ‘I read about the

by TRISTAN SHALE-HESTER @tristan_shale coding challenge set by Jaguar Land Rover and Gorillaz and decided to have a go. We did the interview by Google Chat then I was invited to Gaydon. I was thrilled when they offered me a job!’

JLR head of electrical engineering Alex Heslop said: ‘Daniel is exactly the kind of person we need.

‘Technology companies like Jaguar Land Rover provide an exciting opportunity for the brightest and best. We want to attract top-notch talent in software, cyber systems, app development and graphics.

‘We don’t do ordinary, and that

means hiring extraordinary people.’

Virtual band Gorillaz and Jaguar Land Rover continued their search for world-class talent at JLR’s inaugural Tech Fest event, which was held at London’s Central Saint Martins art, design and technology college from September 8 to 10.

The coding challenge can also be completed on the Gorillaz app to go straight to an interview.

The code-breaking puzzle tests real-world skills that the new generation of software and engineering talent must have.

So far, almost 400,000 people have downloaded the Gorillaz app. Of the 41,000 who have taken the challenge, almost 500 cracked the code.

eDynamix ready for GDPR with ISO 27001 certification EDYNAMIX has been certified to the ISO 27001 standard, a framework of policies and procedures across 114 controls which make up an information security management system (ISMS).

The accreditation demonstrates that eDynamix has all the necessary controls in place to help manage data security and minimise risk by pro-actively limiting the impact of a security or data breach.

Iain Nickalls, eDynamix director, said: ‘We have worked extremely hard over the last 18 months to ensure that all of our internal and external systems, daily processes and procedures and data monitoring and controls are secure and robust and meet the very demanding requirements of the ISO standard.

‘To have gained this certification is testament to all employees and it shows that what we do and the

processes we follow to manage data security are recognised as being of the highest order. The standard also provides fundamental components of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which comes into force in May next year, and to which all our systems are compliant for security, consent, erasure and rectification through our unique GDPR whitelisting solution.’

GDPR advice from Lawgistics, p30 WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

| 13

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NEWS.

Nigel’s making plans for Classic Motor Cars

Nigel Woodward, right, and Peter Neumark

NIGEL Woodward has been appointed managing director at classic car restorers Classic Motor Cars.

He arrives at the Bridgnorth firm with an impressive track record in the classic car industry, having been instrumental in the creation and development of Aston Martin and Jaguar Land Rover’s heritage divisions.

Peter Neumark, chairman of the Employee Ownership Trust that runs Classic Motor Cars (CMC), said: ‘This is an important appointment. We are delighted that Nigel has decided to join us and take the company forward. He brings a wealth of experience and expertise to CMC.’ Woodward, who has a 30-year career in the prestige sector of the motoring industry, is best known for having developed the heritage operations at Aston Martin Works Service, which he took over in 2010 and turned from a fairly minor part of the works total offering to its largest single department. ‘This is the culmination of a career in the classic and specialist car industry and a dream come true,’ he said of his new role.

| GEMCO OFFER |

Air-con servicing can boost your business WORKSHOPS can really boost their bottom line by servicing heating and air conditioning systems, according to the experts at garage equipment suppliers Gemco.

Company spokesman Andy Craddock said: ‘Around 90 per cent of your customers have air conditioning fitted to their cars, therefore you already have an existing customer base for your aircon business. If you cannot repair their air conditioning they may go elsewhere and potentially you could lose all their business. But if you kit yourself out for

MOT testers banned after DPF removal investigation Activities of DPF Solutions Sheffield Ltd ‘posed a clear threat to air quality and public health’

T

wo Sheffield mechanics

by JOHN BOWMAN john@blackballmedia.co.uk have been given two-year MOT testing bans after the Driver and Vehicle stations have had to check for Standards Agency found they were a diesel particulate filter while offering a diesel particulate filter inspecting the exhaust system as removal service. The activities of part of the MOT test since February VIS DPF Solutions Sheffield Ltd IT posed a 2014. The filter has been in use for W SA andGpublic W clear threat to air quality more than 20 years and helps meet ND EM W .GOW C ® Members of the Garage health, said the DVSA. emissions standards, O European EMN ® Equipment Association TM CPAR A Its investigation found that ‘sister improving air quality and health.

O K EC company’ MB Services Yorkshire was .COSTSome firms offer services to H .UAND ANE also advertising such a service. remove K the X claiming it will D1filter, The owner and director of MB improve the 0vehicle’s performance, this business then youEquipment can look after Experts in the Garage Industry Experts in the Garage Equipment Industry Services Yorkshire, Mark Brace, or is cheaper than replacing the your existing customers and l SERVICE 0844 249 8100 l 54,0844 claimed that the firms were current DPF. However, it is an offence 49 8104 potentially SPARES 249 8102 attract new ones.’

44 249 8104 SERVICE 0844 249 8100 SPARES 0844 249 8102 unconnected, but the probe revealed to drive a vehicle that has been Gemco says that if you invest that the two companies shared the modified that way. approximately £3,000 to £3,500 in an same address and some of the same In 2014, the agency formally air-con machine, some oils, leak dyes, staff and shareholders. notified MOT garages that if they a nitrogen leak test kit and technician These included Brace’s sons Ricky, offered a DPF removal service it training, you could expect to get 33, and Ross, 31, both directors of would regard that as bringing the payback in 12 months by carrying out DPF Solutions Sheffield.

MOT scheme into disrepute. As a only sixPROJECT jobs per month. The company ATION | MANAGEMENT | AFTER-SALES SERVICE The two companies has launched a new offer on Bradbury regularly recommended air conditioning machines. Two models each other on social UR WORKSHOP WITH THE HELP OF THE UK EXPERTS! are available on the promotion: media, boasting that their l BACP202 – Fully automatic unit DPF removal services suitable for R134a refrigerant gas. were ‘MOT-friendly’ and l BACP222YF – Fully automatic unit ‘hard to notice’. suitable for R1234YF refrigerant gas.

Garages and testing www.gemco.co.uk l

l

EQUIPMENT EXP ERTS. . .

PICTURE COURTESY OF DVSA

result of the investigation, Ricky and Ross Brace’s authorisation to conduct MOTs was removed for two years and Mark Brace’s by 28 days.

DVSA chief executive Gareth Llewellyn said: ‘We take the quality of MOT testing extremely seriously.

‘We’ll withdraw the right to provide MOTs and even prosecute garages who fail to meet the required standards, including those who pose a risk to air quality by removing DPFs or installing other emissions ‘‘cheat’’ devices.’

During the 2016/17 financial year, 761 warnings or disqualifications were issued to MOT garages or testers who carried out improper tests that endangered road users.

The DVSA says that stopping MOT garages from removing diesel particulate filters is one of a number of measures it is taking to support the government’s strategy to improve air quality.

As of August this year, the agency has been looking for emissions cheat devices in the roadside checks it conducts on lorries on Britain’s roads.

WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

| 15

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OFFERS WILL BE WITHDRAWN WHEN STOCK IS SOLD. WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO CHANGE PRODUCTS AND PRICING AT ANY TIME. PRICES AND SAVINGS EXCLUDE VAT UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE. E&OE 16 | WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

INSIDE TRACK.

ADAM WELLER LOOKS AT MOTORSPORT ENGINEERING, DEVELOPMENTS AND NEWS

Jaguar’s well placed thanks to its commitment to innovation S

ince taking its most recent Le Mans 24 Hours victory in 1990, Jaguar has struggled to find success in motorsport.

Failed GT projects, a miserable five years in Formula One and a disappointing first season in Formula E are significant bookmarks in a torrid 21st Century racing resumé.

But on the latter point, even if their first season didn’t go to plan, Jaguar was still the first prestige manufacturer to pull the Formula E trigger. Making that move before BMW, Mercedes and Porsche is almost certainly going to pay dividends; as the other manufacturers encounter the teething problems Jaguar has already fought through, the big cat emblazoned cars will likely be further up the grid.

At the recent Frankfurt Motor Show, Jaguar highlighted its continued commitment to Formula E with the reveal of the I-Pace eTrophy.

The eTrophy will be the first ever full-time support series for Formula E, and the first singlemake international championship for electric cars. It is set to debut alongside Formula E’s 2018-2019 season.

Since the I-Pace eTrophy was on the cards for some time – supposedly before Jaguar’s Formula E car made its race debut – it’s safe to say that Jaguar has proven itself to be at least a little ahead of the curve with this concept.

Furthermore, while the rest of motorsport is struggling to implement the so-called ‘future technologies’ that are now very much in the present, Coventry’s own have taken it all on board. Jaguar, alongside the organisers of Formula E, has set up its racing future better than any other manufacturer or organisation on the planet.

As an example of just how lateral Jaguar’s approach to the sport is compared to the majority, just look at the GTE and GT3 categories, which play host to almost every manufacturer that wants to take its supercars to the track.

While the success of those categories in the short term is practically guaranteed, there’s also a worrying lack of manoeuvre for manufacturers who want to showcase their new-gen performance technology.

Jaguar’s I-Pace racing series will serve as a test bed for its EV tech All-wheel-drive, electric motors and active aero have no place in current GT racing. That fact becomes all the more strange when you look at practically every hypercar of the 2010s, and realise that there’s currently no scope for them to go racing due to the narrow-minded approach to the innovations they house.

Currently, you can watch a GT race featuring a petrol-only, rear-drive version of Honda’s NSX. That might seem like a good thing if you don’t like the direction motoring is going in, but ultimately, resistance will prove futile.

Why is there nowhere for BMW to race the i8? How is a car as spectacular as the MercedesAMG Project One being born into a world with nowhere for it to compete?

Frankly, it’s because motorsport has lost its way. The former grand pantheon of motoring innovation is now actively dating itself by not

Jaguar should make progress next season

adapting to shifting trends in the wider industry.

And, funnily enough, those who snubbed putting the engine behind the driver in Formula One in the late 50s, and scoffed at the thought of wings on race cars 10 years later, found themselves far behind the curve when they eventually cottoned on. Even in Formula One, where hybrid systems were introduced as far back as 2009, such technology is potentially going to be outlawed by the sport ahead of the 2021 season.

That’s a definite step backwards.

Jaguar, on the other hand, has invested heavily in Formula E, and if you look at the names following suit, you’d have to suggest that they’re betting on the winning horse. With the addition of the eTrophy, Jaguar will learn about preparing GT and Touring Car-style machinery powered by electric motors, which will benefit its road and track projects for many years to come.

All of this not only represents foresight, but also a potential changing of the guard for motorsport as a whole; Jaguar has put itself in the pound seats to lead motorsport’s biggest evolution since someone realised that inverted aeroplane wings might make race cars go around corners faster.

WHO IS ADAM WELLER? A self-confessed motorsport addict, Adam is a member of Blackball Media’s talented writing team, providing content for Workshop Magazine, sister title Car Dealer and various other publications and outlets.

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FEATURES.

HOW IT WORKS:

LEXUS MULTI-STAGE HYBRID ‘10-SPEED’ TRANSMISSION Darren Cassey explains a clever (and a little bit confusing!) new system that is designed to combine the driver involvement of a traditional gearbox with the economy of a continuously variable transmission.

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he LC and LS are Lexus’s flagship luxury models. The former is a stunning coupe and the latter, seen in the diagram here, is a big fourdoor saloon – the latest model.

They share an all-new platform, but the really intriguing thing is that both are available as a hybrid with a ‘Multi-Stage Hybrid System’. It’s a new type of transmission that Lexus reckons offers the driver involvement of a traditional gearbox with the economy of a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

Put simply, there are CVT ‘gears’ within planetary gears to provide the illusion of a 10-speed gearbox. Naturally, this being from the tech wizards at Lexus, even the simple explanation is not particularly straightforward, so let’s start at the beginning.

What is a CVT? A CVT is a popular choice for hybrid vehicles because it can adapt to run at the most efficient ratio in any given situation.

There are various types on the market but the most common involves a belt that’s attached to a ‘cone’ on the crankshaft at one end, and around the driveshaft at the other end. The belt can be moved up and down the cones to vary the number of rotations in relation to the driveshaft, mimicking different gear ratios.

The term ‘continuously variable’ comes from the fact that the transmission can figure out the exact gear ratio that’s most appropriate for the application and adjust the belt on the cone to provide it. Instead of fixed ratios, the CVT allows for theoretically infinite variations between its two extremes.

Upsides include improved efficiency and lower cost, but on the downside it’s not very efficient at using the energy put into it and has a weird ‘elastic’ feeling under acceleration. This, and

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The LS and LC both sit on Lexus’s new GA-L rear-wheel drive platform. the fact that finding a belt to withstand a highperformance output is difficult, rule it out as an option for performance cars.

However, testament to the upsides of being able to choose the optimum gear ratio at all times is the fact that CVTs were banned from Formula 1 before they could even be used.

So what has Lexus done differently?

This is where it gets complicated. Lexus, which uses CVTs across its range of hybrid models, clearly didn’t want to completely ditch the technology despite wanting to give its flagship models sporting credentials.

The Multi-Stage Hybrid System has four traditional planetary gears mated to the 3.5-litre

V6 engine and its two electric motors. Then, each of the first three gears has three ‘step’ CVT ratios within them – three multiplied by three is nine, and the final, solitary planetary gear acts as an overdrive for cruising speeds. Still with us?

The engineers at Lexus add a slip of the belt to mimic the jolt you’d feel when changing gears while still offering continuously variable ratios.

Why not just use a more common automatic?

As you’ve probably guessed, it’s all in the name

It allows the car to run with the engine off at speeds of up to 87mph.

Multi-Stage Hybrid System uses a combination of planetary gears and a CVT.

Transmission is mated to a 3.5-litre V6 engine and two electric motors.

of efficiency. Opt for the V8 in the LC and you get a good old-fashioned 10-speed torque converter automatic gearbox – the theory being that if you put your money on a 5.0-litre V8, chances are you’re not too concerned about CO2 emissions or getting boast-worthy fuel economy.

In that application, the improved response from the gearbox makes a traditional transmission the better choice.

However, by using the multi-stage hybrid system, Lexus can tune the responses to be quick

and snappy when you’re driving hard, or keep revs optimised when you’re taking it easy, offering a decent compromise between performance and economy.

So, does it work?

Yes. Well, mostly. Lexus’ chief engineer Koji Sato said: ‘In the past, people only associated hybrid with eco. We wanted to broaden that perception and create a true high-performance powertrain.’

They’ve done pretty damn well, but there’s no

denying there’s still a hint of that elasticity that makes performance driving in a CVT unexciting.

And it’s also pretty easy to catch it out – if you’re cruising at a steady throttle then prod your foot down a bit to overtake, it has a tendency to drop a ‘gear’ unnecessarily.

However, as far as CVTs go it’s one of the better ones we’ve come across, and it does a very good impression of a more traditional transmission when you’re using the paddle shifters to bang up and down the gears.

If performance is everything, you’re probably best off steering clear and getting the LC and LS in non-hybrid form.

But if you’re not too worried about attacking alpine passes every weekend, the multi-stage hybrid won’t detract from the driving experience and you’ll learn to work with its quirks in time.

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FEATURES. RESTORATION

OH, YOU BEAUTIFUL BENTLEY!

It had been lying in bits and pieces around a house for decades, but this rare 1928 4.5-litre Bentley has now been brought back to gleaming life after lengthy work on it. Tristan Shale-Hester unravels the story of a motoring beauty reborn.

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hile we’ve all heard of barn finds, house finds are far more rare. That’s why when William Medcalf was told a peculiar story about a house that was reported to have Bentley components scattered around it, he just had to investigate this great motoring mystery.

Medcalf owns William Medcalf Limited, a specialist vintage Bentley restorer in West Sussex, and the story of what is possibly the

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most extraordinary task the company has ever undertaken began with a phone call.

Medcalf explained how he was contacted by a woman whose father had recently died, leaving behind a house full of various car components – including many for a Bentley.

When he visited the house, near Kew Gardens in London, Medcalf immediately noticed a Bentley cylinder block sitting on the floor of the entrance hall.

Making his way up the three storeys of the building, he saw a clutch, some conrods and various other parts.

There were headlights under a bed, and a dashboard and radiator in the spare room.

Eventually, Medcalf had discovered enough components to build the rolling chassis for a 4.5-litre Bentley.

The 1928 Bentley was one of only eight to have coachwork by Victor Broom.

The car had been bought by Stuart Wallace in 1962 for less than

PICTURES: TED WELFORD

“

We’ve let it show its age in places, and when we repainted it we hand coach-painted the chassis; that’s what they did in that period.

WILLIAM MEDCALF

half the price of a new Mini. After discovering the massive running cost of the vehicle, Wallace, who was then a student, had the car taken apart, with all the pieces documented and left in the house for Medcalf to discover in the next millennium.

The final piece of the puzzle was found when Medcalf was told that the Bentley’s body was being kept on the roof of a nearby garage that had been owned by Wallace.

Sure enough, there it was, and Medcalf’s team got to work rebuilding the car.

‘We’ve sympathetically restored it,’ said Medcalf. ‘We had to repaint it because somebody painted it green, and we had to retrim it because somebody painted the leather, but past that, all of the aluminium panelling is original and we’ve kept the original finishes.

‘We’ve let it show its age in places, and when we repainted it, we hand coach-painted the chassis, because that’s what they did in that period. They were never spray-painted.

Ninety-eight per cent original – the 1928 Bentley ‘It’s about a year’s worth of work.’

Having painstakingly restored the 89-year-old car to its former glory, Medcalf sold it to new owner Jim Clarke.

We spoke to Clarke a matter of minutes after he had seen the car in person for the first time ever, at the Concours of Elegance 2017.

‘The car is a serious original,’ he said. ‘William reckons it’s now 98 per cent original, so all the parts are there and everything has been properly restored. I love the story, but the thing that really got me was the body shape.’

And the clearly delighted Clarke added: ‘I’ll use it and take it on a few rallies.’

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FEATURES.

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO

ELECTRIFIED CARS

Life could be about to get a whole lot more complicated for workshops as more and more electric and hybrid cars will be taking to the UK’s roads in the coming months and years. Rebecca Chaplin reports.

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lectric and hybrid cars have been slowly making their presence felt over the past couple of decades – but UK motorists still seem a bit reluctant to part with their traditional diesel- and petrol-powered models.

Concerns about range, reliability and infrastructure have been the biggest causes of worry among car buyers, many of whom seem to view EVs – rather unfairly, we feel – as nothing more than glorified mobility scooters.

The winds of change are definitely blowing, though. Tesla was the first to really transform the way people viewed electric cars. The idea that you could use them for anything more than city driving was completely novel, but the American brand made it easy to cover hundreds of miles on one charge and made charging fast too.

There was still one big problem, however: the price. It’s fair to say that electric cars still err on the side of expensive, but there are of course obvious savings once you’re up and running.

What if you’re not ready to go fully electric, though? Well, there is another option.

Hybrid cars offer a mix of benefits for both short city journeys and longer motorway drives, but the combination of motors can add even more complications for garages.

Last month, the Frankfurt Motor Show really reflected this change in attitudes with the range of powertrains now available. This is the event where European brands usually showcase their best new concepts of the year, and there was a clear trend towards electrified cars this time.

The star of the show was, without a doubt, the Mercedes AMG Project One, a car that features engine tech from the Mercedes Formula One car and includes a hybrid powertrain.

Although that’ll likely be top of your Christmas list, there are also some other clever new ideas when it comes to hybrid power.

One thing’s for certain: garages are going to need to switch up their kit in preparation for

alternative power. If you work at a franchised garage, it’s more than likely that you will already have seen extended training to cover hybrids become available, as well as more vehicles of this type appearing in the workshop.

For independents, it’s a very different story.

Maybe you specialise in a particular sector of the market already, but if your bread and butter is used cars no longer covered under a manufacturer’s service plan, how do you prepare for the forthcoming influx of EVs? Well, to help you out with exactly what the future holds, we’ve pulled together the top 10 electrified cars announced at the Frankfurt Motor Show and how likely it is you’ll see them on the roads.

It’ll be a while before these need MOTs, but expect to see a lot of these electrified examples out and about in the next five years and making their way to a garage near you soon…

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FEATURES.

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO ELECTRIFIED CARS

JAGUAR E-TYPE ZERO

M

eet the most beautiful electric car yet to be made – the Jaguar E-Type Zero.

Based on the original 1960s design, the Jaguar concept remains true to the classic car’s stunningly sleek styling.

It features an electric motor, a smart infotainment system and LED headlights. It’s faster than the original too, with a 0-60mph time of just 5.3 seconds and an impressive real-world range of 170 miles. Jaguar is said to be currently investigating bringing the model to market, but you’d be hard pushed to tell if it was an original or electric if it wasn’t for the lack of noise!

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VOLKSWAGEN ID CROZZ

I

gnore the ridiculous name; this is Volkswagen’s crossover electric car concept that’s set to spearhead the maker’s foray into EVs. The high-riding SUV-style car will be just one of 23 all-electric vehicles arriving from the VW Group by 2025 as it invests £5.4 billion in alternatively fuelled cars.

This concept produces 302bhp and is claimed to have a range of 311 miles. Scheduled to arrive in 2020, it can be charged to 80 per cent in 30 minutes using a fast charger.

When it comes to onboard tech, the ID Crozz is packed. This includes features such as fully automated driving and touch-sensitive doors. However, the chances of all of these actually making it to the final article are unlikely, but automated driving is becoming a popular option in many forms on new cars – from cruise control to fully autonomous.

MERCEDES EQA

T

he EQA Concept signals the start of Mercedes’ electric car onslaught and will be one of 10 electric cars the maker plans to have on sale by 2022. The EQA is predicted to be the biggest seller in the Mercedes EQ electric line-up, with an expected price tag of less than £36,000 when it reaches the market in 2020.

With a range of around 250 miles, the EQA will produce more than 268bhp and 500Nm of torque. It’s fully electric and four-wheel drive, meaning power will be sent directly to all four wheels from two or more electric motors.

Although it’s only a concept at the moment, it looks very close to production. We’d guess, though, that when it comes to market it’ll likely be available with five doors rather than three and it might lose some of the grille lights that are capable of changing depending on the mode you’re in. (Current legislation doesn’t allow them on UK roads.)

BMW i VISION DYNAMICS

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MW has released an electric saloon concept that previews a forthcoming i5 saloon that will slot neatly between the i3 hatch and i8 sports car. The i Vision Dynamics is a four-door Gran Coupe concept that BMW claims has a range of 373 miles, a top speed of more than 120mph and a 0-60mph time of 3.8 seconds – powered solely by electricity.

By 2025, the German manufacturer will have electrified 25 models in its range, with 12 of these being fully electric.

While this is very much a concept, with those stylised lines, wheels and headlights there’s clearly a classic BMW saloon underneath. And while this will be on the roads eventually, expect more of those popular BMW features with an ‘i’ brand twist, as the i5 is expected to reach showrooms by 2021.

SMART VISION EQ

T

he tiny Smart car has become a staple commuter choice in clogged-up cities, thanks to its compact dimensions and tiny turning circle. Now commuters will be able to look forward to a fully autonomous option with zero emissions if Smart gives its Vision EQ concept the green light.

The German manufacturer says that by 2030 most members of the public will share ownership of cars rather than own them outright.

With this in mind, it is investing heavily in its Car2Go programme to cater for the anticipated demand, and which has already been tried out in Europe using the current Smart EV. The Vision EQ concept delivers additional benefits, such as smart door locks that can be unlocked with a code on a phone and enable DHL deliveries to be made to your car rather than your home.

Although the design of the concept might be watered down a bit for production purposes, the bubble shape, clear doors and enclosed wheel are certainly eye-catching, we’re sure you’ll agree.

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FEATURES.

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO ELECTRIFIED CARS HONDA CR-V HYBRID

A

part from its NSX supercar, there has been a noticeable lack of hybrid models in the Honda range of late.

That’s all about to change, though, with the CR-V – the first volume hybrid model from the Japanese firm since the Jazz.

Unveiled at Frankfurt, the CR-V features a 2.0-litre iVTEC petrol engine and two electric motors. One powers the front wheels while the second acts as a range extender to recharge the batteries.

The Honda works out how to use fuel and electric energy efficiently and switches between EV, hybrid and engine drive when needed. This we’ll definitely see on the roads, as it’s due to arrive in late 2018.

The clever thing about the CR-V Hybrid is it can drive all the way to its top speed powered simply using the electric motor, and most of the time the petrol engine will purely be used to charge the batteries, as would be the case in a BMW i3 Range Extender.

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MERCEDES-AMG PROJECT ONE

T

his is the Mercedes-AMG Project One that features the same drivetrain as the one used in the firm’s Formula 1 cars. According to Ola Kallenius, member of the Daimler AG board, it’s the first Formula One car with MOT approval!

It produces 992bhp, has a top speed of 217mph and can hit 124mph in just six seconds.

This is a proper two fingers up to anyone who thinks that electrified cars are boring, as it’ll compete with other hybrid supercars such as the Ferrari LaFerrari.

Four electric motors give the plug-in hypercar four-wheel drive and an electric range of 16 miles. However, much like the Porsche 918 and McLaren P1 that went before it, most of the car’s electric power will be used to boost performance.

And if you’re wondering whether it’ll go into production, you’re already too late. All this comes at a price – £2 million at current exchange rates – and the exclusive short run will only consist of 275 units.

BMW i3S

NISSAN LEAF

I

t was the car that kickstarted the electric revolution – and now, as the rest of the automotive world unveils its EV future, Nissan is busy taking the wraps off its second-generation Leaf. In fact, it’s probably one of the few electric cars you may have worked on already.

It’s also one of the few cars unveiled outside of the German motor show, as it was showcased for the first time in Japan last month. The new Leaf will feature ProPilot autonomous tech that can drive the car in single-lane traffic and park for you.

Built at the Japanese firm’s Sunderland plant, the new car features a fresh look and a range of 235 miles. That’s 111 miles more than the 24kW base version of the outgoing car and beats the current top-of-the-range 30kW model by 80 miles.

Again, this car is production-ready, so expect to see it on roads within the coming years.

G

erman maker BMW will be looking to capitalise on the halo effect of its i8 sports car with the introduction of a breathed-on i3s. As well as revealing a new look for the standard model and a range extender, the manufacturer uncovered a tuned version with 181bhp, new lower suspension and sportier looks.

Also available in range extender mode – where a small petrol engine acts as a generator to recharge the battery – the i3s will hit 60mph in 6.7 seconds. That’s just four-tenths of a second quicker than the standard model.

The top speed has been improved by six mph to 99mph.

This car is one we’ve looked at in Workshop Magazine before, and we expect you’ll be seeing more and more of them both on the road and in your workshops.

MINI ELECTRIC

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uilt in Britain and guaranteeing 4,500 jobs at the firm’s Oxford plant, the Mini Electric is the BMW Group’s big gamble on an emissions-free future. So far, few details of the technical specification of the Mini have been released, but we’re expecting it to share much of the technology from the BMW i3S above.

While the details may be sketchy, the design you see here is likely to be very close to the production model that’s expected to arrive in 2019. With the production already planned in, it’s almost certain that we’ll see this car reaching UK streets, and with the Mini look remaining largely the same since BMW took over, we can expect this to continue.

When we spoke with exterior designer Christopher Well at the Frankfurt Motor Show, he explained: ‘We focused on the lower part of the body, a so-called ‘‘efficiency layer’’ that’s all for aerodynamics, the winglets you see here, and they’re very efficient.

‘It’s the more efficient side of sportiness. We wanted the car to still be sporty – Minis should be sporty of course – but a more efficient kind of sporty. Efficiency is key for electro-mobility – the range is relying on efficiency.’

There are a few touches, such as covered wheels, to improve the aforementioned efficiency, that may not make it to the final design, but this feels like an almost-complete car.

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FEATURES.

PART 1:

LOOK OUT WORLD, HERE WE COME!

Mechanics Andy Gove and Sean Tubby drove to Mongolia in a Reliant Robin in 2011. Now they’ve set off around the globe on Honda Africa Twins – and the tale of their epic journey will be told here in their own words over the coming months

S

etting off from Southampton, this tour will take the duo across some of the most dangerous countries and test their mechanical knowledge in some of the most remote places. But who exactly are they?

Sean Tubby was a truck mechanic then trained to teach motor mechanics, working with fulltime learners and apprentices on heavy and light goods vehicles. Andy Gove was a Volvo mechanic but decided he wanted to work on far bigger engines, retraining as an engineer in the Merchant Navy and taking to the seas.

Their story starts in Germany...

Montana Motorcycles, Ramstein, Germany Sean Tubby We set off from our camp spot in the woods, gathering a few confused looks from dog walkers and joggers along the way, and headed into town for Montana Motorcycles.

We were greeted by Jeff, the owner, who promptly invited us in and showed us round his awesome shop. Jeff primarily deals in the sales and import/export of motorcycles to and from basically anywhere in the world.

If you require such a service, he’s your man.

And I can say that with a degree of certainty, because this is where I bought my bike Barbara from and Jeff shipped it to the UK for me.

After raising the topic of my rear tyre needing changing fairly urgently, he kindly handed over a replacement to me and said he knew a chap called Klaus a few miles away who could change it. This would save a lot of struggling on the side of the road, so we took him up on the offer.

We headed towards Hüttengarten in Schönenberg. Jeff had mentioned that Klaus had a range of bikes, something like Steptoe’s yard.

We weren’t prepared, though, for the excitement of seeing such classic bikes as the Suzuki RG500, Kawasaki GPZ600R or the Yamaha RD350... to name just a few. Klaus has been in the business for 50 years and he also used to race speedway and road races, such as the Isle of Man TT, while running a motorcycle workshop.

After we whipped our back wheels out, Klaus set to work on my rear tyre and Andy’s buckled rear wheel, which was straightened and then balanced by eye. Meeting people like Jeff and Klaus only reinforces why we are doing this trip.

It’s funny how things fall into place.

Back on the road, we motored on towards the small town of Maxau. It was time to change the rear pads on my bike, so I set to work on that when we arrived. We camped by a lake, later meeting some angry night-fishermen who said it was a nature reserve and we couldn’t sleep here.

After a quick chat about our trip and a joke about catfish, they could see we meant no harm and suggested that we only stay for one night. Perfect.

Austria Andy Gove

New rear brake pads were in order

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Being caught in the rain has never particularly bothered me. It gets interesting, though, when the cold creeps in, starting at your fingertips, biting into the nail bed and slowly chewing up your hands into the joints, where tendrils of ice seep into the veins before moving on and spreading to the next section of your limbs.

Then the wind lances across the road, hell-bent on either pushing you into the other lane or teasing you into an over-correct that will have you

Andy prays they’ll make it...

The‘birthplace’ of Barbara

Pay attention at the back there! down the road on your back while your bike rakes rails in the tarmac. The helmet then leaks so water trickles around your scalp, fogging the visor and spreading the icy cold around the base of your skull and under your chin so the only warm place in your head is your tongue.

All this while in your hyper-alert state you watch the Audi driver hang closer to your tail, safe in the knowledge that if you go down there’s no physical way in the universe he would stop in time. But even then, despite it being physically and mentally trying, jangling the nerves and probably lowering my core temperature, the hardest thing is keeping the stupid grin off my face. And as we left Germany and headed to Austria, it rained a lot. Non-stop, in fact. The gentle rolling hills quickly gave way to the epic alpine slopes with savage inclines and beautiful waterfalls. But as the roads increased in beauty,

Parked up with a view of the Großglockner

Even the wind chill couldn’t daunt the duo

A picturesque pit stop in Austria en route to the Großglockner so too did they in danger. The weather only worsened, creating torrents of water coming down the hills at you, washing the grip from your wheels. After a few near-misses, we decided to take shelter until the weather eased off.

It sort of did but it also got dark, so we traded one problem for another.

Eventually finding a legitimate campsite, we pitched up, cleaned up and dried up.

Thank you so much to the campsite, whose name we have conveniently forgotten, for putting us up for free and letting us use your facilities. We did try to pay – honest! Well, it’s not our fault no one is there at midnight or early when we left.

Tomorrow we search for the Großglockner – Austria’s highest mountain at 12,461ft – which comes with one of the country’s best roads. Hopefully it’ll be a tad drier – which will dramatically increase our chances of survival.

Großglockner, Austria Sean Tubby As we set off to the Großglockner, the weather looks great. But about an hour in, it turns rubbish again and all of the kit we had spent so long drying out is now sodden again. Ah well...

After some navigation issues heading into the mountains we stumble upon an Aldi. Yes, the shop! We stock up on cheese and salami and, while in the car park, run into a chap on holiday from the Netherlands admiring our bikes. Fairly swiftly, we drop the question how do we find the road to the Großglockner? This works a charm and saves us both from trying to open our floppy, wet map and wondering why it doesn’t show all of the mountain roads that we need.

A couple of hours later and heading through the last stretch of road towards our destination,

we stop to fuel up. We meet a local who clearly assumes that we are off to the Großglockner and tells us that it’s closed as the road is blocked by one metre of snow. Cool.

After finding a camp spot nearby, we treat ourselves to a couple of jars of beer in the local pub: tomorrow will be the day.

The next morning... Sun’s up. Tents down.

Hit the road. We hammer the bikes fairly hard up the long, winding mountain roads, trying to dodge the rain clouds, and reach the ticket booth.

Apparently you have to pay to get to the top.

We fire up the cameras and set off. It’s steep – like, really steep. Pretty soon we’re in the clouds and, unsurprisingly, the roads are now wet and also we have to fight sludgy snow. I’m not too bad with heights, but on a motorbike, loaded up, with a wet and slippery road, it’s hard not to get a little freaked out when you see a ‘2,600 metres’ sign while you’re riding through a cloud, with only some scattered breeze blocks as the barrier to stop you going over the edge.

We had the Bluetooth headsets switched on for this. The conversation was mostly a series of obscenities and general shouting, followed by: ‘Mate, look at that view’. It was a fantastic view.

Once we reached the top we ate some mixed nuts and raisins and took in the last hour’s ride while looking up at the snowy peak. It was all completely worth it.

As we rode back down, the unmistakable smell of overheating brakes from a multitude of vehicles hit the nose fairly hard and made me happy that I’d changed my rear pads.

We rode into the night and winged another camp spot by a river near Amstetten. In the morning, we were greeted by a springer spaniel – closely followed by a chap with a shotgun. A brief brown-trouser moment was replaced with a sigh of relief when he smiled, nodded and walked by.

Off to Budapest we go...

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CLUB.

GDPR: I’VE READ A BIT ABOUT IT BUT WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO?

Q

ASK THE JUDGE: Ian Gardner, sales manager at automotive legal experts Lawgistics, has some advice for anyone who holds personal data.

I keep seeing the term GDPR bandied about. I don’t really understand what it is about or even if it applies to me as the owner of a workshop.

n The Judge delivers his verdict: It applies to all businesses who deal with customers or who have employees, so you should not ignore it.

The GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) comes into force across Europe in May, 2018. The UK will issue its own version of the GDPR but if it doesn’t do this prior to next May (and currently the UK government has not said when it will get its own act together), the cross-Europe GDPR will apply to your business regardless of Brexit.

What you need to be doing now is reviewing how it will impact on your business. The website of the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has a 12-point plan to guide you.

Initial steps include sitting down and listing what personal data you hold. This list is likely to include employee data and

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your customers’ names and addresses on invoices. You need to be able to justify why you hold this information and ensure that you have one of the legitimate grounds for storing it.

Sales invoices will contain customer details (personal data) and so will fall under the remit of GDPR. However, you will be able to store these invoices as you have a legitimate reason for keeping the invoices, namely they are part of a sales contract between you and the consumer and you will need them for your tax records.

If, however, you used the customer’s address from the invoice to send them some marketing information, then unless you had specific consent to send that information, you could be fined if they complain to the ICO. The big fines of up to 20 million euros are likely to be reserved for the larger global companies, but the ICO does not discriminate; it fines small businesses, charities, police forces, heath authorities and individuals, to name but a few.

In the automotive industry, Honda (UK) was recently

fined £13,000, a car dealer in Manchester £40,000 and Carfinance247 £30,000.

Aside from keeping a list of the types of personal data which you hold and ensuring you have a legitimate reason for storing it, you need to make sure you look after that data.

This will apply to physical records as well as electronic records. For example, if your accountant takes your invoices away, do you have a system of logging the invoices in and out so you know where that personal data is at all times? If everything is stored on line, is your security up to date?

Do you change your passwords regularly or when a member of staff leaves?

Most of what you need to do under the GDPR is relatively simple and you may well be doing much of it already.

However, don’t let that fool you into thinking you don’t need to do anything as you must take the time to undertake and document a systematic review as that is the only way you can ensure compliance.

More than £400 off braking training

One free month of additional support

The price of a Pagid Professional Academy brake training programme is normally £1,000 but Workshop Club members can book their place for £599. Take your braking knowledge or that of your team to the next level for this special Workshop Club price.

Just quote ‘Brake Training 2017’ in the promo code box when registering your interest. Find out more and register your interest here: pagidprofessional. co.uk/training/braking/

Autologic produces a successful fully integrated vehicle diagnostics support system. AssistPlus is a tablet containing diagnostics software, a PDF viewer, web browser and YouTube application to allow you to investigate vehicles, along with a full vehicle history on the device recorded against VIN. An on-board camera allows you to capture video and stills. Club members signing up to Autologic Assist will receive a month of additional support on top of their first year.

£100 off your motor trade insurance With 25 years of industry experience in the world of commercial vehicle insurance, Plan Insurance Brokers is the expert for the UK’s professional road users. Motor trade insurance is vital to keep your business moving, whether it’s your own vehicles or customers’ cars that you’re moving about – even if a customer’s car is involved in a fire or theft while in your care. Club members can receive an exclusive £100 discount on their motor trade insurance through Plan Insurance Brokers.

TO JOIN GO TO WORKSHOPCLUB.CO.UK OR CALL 023 9252 2434 AND 30 | WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

Why you mustn’t ignore the concerns of your staff COIL SPRING COMPRESSOR KIT STOCK No. 60981

Q

Can you fairly dismiss an employee after 20 months of unauthorised absence?

n The Judge delivers his verdict: Apparently not, according to the recent employment appeal tribunal case of Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust v Akinwunmi.

This ruling is a reminder that an employer’s behaviour can and will be taken into account when a tribunal considers whether a dismissal was unfair.

On the face of it, you would think that if an employee refuses to return to work for 20 months, an employer should be allowed to dismiss that person. However,

as this case involving an unhappy team of consultant neurosurgeons demonstrates, that is not necessarily so.

The tribunal found there was a lot of discontent between the neurosurgeons and it essentially decided that the employer failed to do enough to properly address any concerns, meaning the neurosurgeon was justified in not returning to work after an unpaid sabbatical and was therefore unfairly dismissed. n Got a problem at your workshop?

Send an email to TheJudge@ lawgistics.co.uk and you could see it dealt with in a future issue of Workshop Magazine.

Discount on software & free health check app

Free legal advice plus discounted membership

Dragon2000’s dealer management system is one of the most versatile and easy-to-use products on the market.

The software can help manage supplier and customer details, help you keep on top of your costs and ensure that your business is running as smoothly and as profitably as possible.

Workshop Club members are eligible for a 10 per cent discount on their first year of a Dragon2000 software subscription – and they get the free Vehicle Health Check app too.

As part of your membership, you will have a free telephone consultation with Lawgistics worth £100. You will also be signed up to Lawgistics’ basic membership package worth £95, have 25 per cent discount off Lawgistics products, get access to guidance notes and document templates and enjoy a discount off membership upgrades – £100 off the Small Business pack and £250 off the Professional membership pack – to better suit your needs.

Dragon2000

SPEAK TO ONE OF OUR TEAM

MAX. LOAD 1,250KG SUITABLE FOR BOTH MACPHERSON STRUT COIL SPRINGS AND CONICAL SPRINGS 3 SETS OF INTERCHANGEABLE JAWS SAFETY OVERLOAD SYSTEM ENSURES PROTECTION FOR USER CLIP-ON YOKE PROTECTORS FOR SPRING PROTECTION

Strength in Quality WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

| 31

THE UK’S NUMBER 1 BRAKING BRAND

As a preferred OE-partner for many of the world’s leading vehicle brands, Pagid is recognised for quality, reliability, innovation and proven braking performance.

That’s why Pagid is the biggest selling braking brand in the UK. Chosen by more workshops than any other.

 PagidUK  @PagidUK  @PagidUK  PagidUK Pagid is a trademark of TMD Friction

32 | WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

Find out more at pagid.com

PRODUCTS.

Laser Tools front strut top nut wrench/holding tool How much: £67.06 (inc VAT) Where from: lasertools.co.uk Dismantling a Macpherson suspension strut, it’s a common problem for the securing nut on the top mounting to be difficult to access, with the central strut itself needing to be held still while the nut is undone. This tool solves that problem. Used in conjunction with a half-inch ratchet and bars, it’s compatible with a variety of Volvo models.

New for you Laser Tools portable inspection camera How much: £360.00 (inc VAT) Where from: lasertools.co.uk This portable inspection camera from Laser Tools makes performing visual inspections in hard-to-reach areas as easy as possible. The lightweight handheld device features a flexible semi-rigid camera probe, which is 1m long and 3.9mm in diameter. There’s also a 90-degree mirror attachment for increased versatility.

Clarke JumpStart 1224 How much: £167.98 (inc VAT) Where from: machinemart.co.uk The Clarke JumpStart 1224 is a dual-voltage device that can start engines requiring either 12V or 24V. Voltage is selected with a switch and then current can be delivered via a set of 1m cables. The unit has a five-bulb work light, an audible warning when the connection is incorrect and a low battery alarm.

Clarke CLIPPJS Micro JumpStart How much: £89.99 (inc VAT) Where from: machinemart.co.uk This tiny portable lithium-ion power bank can jumpstart cars with flat batteries. It works on engine sizes of up to 2.5 litres for petrol and 2.0 litres for diesel. It also has USB 5V charging capability for mobile phones and a 12V/16V/19V outlet for tablets or laptops. In addition, there’s a built-in torch to help out in emergency situations.

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PRODUCTS.

Clarke Little Devil II turbo fan gas heater How much: £95.98 (inc VAT) Where from: machinemart.co.uk Clarke’s latest turbo fan propane-fired gas heater is perfect for warming up your workshop during the winter. The Little Devil II has a heat output of 10.3kW and comes with a regulator and gas hose. It’s constructed from corrosion-resistant stainless steel and has a fuel safety cut-out and a handle.

Sealey 900kg static mounted crane How much: £334.80 (inc VAT) Where from: machinemart.co.uk This Sealey static-mounted crane is made of heavy-duty steel, which has been given a powder-coated finish for added corrosion resistance. It’s on a 360-degree swivel base, so can be easily rotated. The lifting arm has a maximum capacity of 900kg when the boom is retracted and 250kg when fully extended. Included is a heavy-duty chain and hook, which has a safety clip to prevent the load sling from slipping.

34 | WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

Laser Tools auto circuit tester How much: £21.65 (inc VAT) Where from: lasertools.co.uk This handy tester from Laser Tools confirms the presence of voltage on vehicle electrical systems, including those with the latest 48V subsystems found on new luxury Audis and Renault’s upcoming hybrid-assist systems. It includes a cable piercer, voltage indicator and 1m of cable.

Laser Tools camshaft drive chain wear indicator How much: £123.91 (inc VAT) Where from: lasertools.co.uk This device allows its user to check the timing chain stretch on 1.4-litre and 1.6-litre BMW Mini petrol engines without having to dismantle the engine. The tool is made up of five individual components that work together to give a repeatable result.

Laser Tools crankshaft pulley holding tool How much: £158.26 (inc VAT) Where from: lasertools.co.uk This piece of equipment from Laser Tools is designed to hold the crankshaft pulley of some models of Vauxhall Opel and Chevrolet. It’s adjustable for different types of pulley and can be used with a half-inch D power bar.

Clarke XR80 pace heater How much: £286.80 (inc VAT) Where from: machinemart.co.uk The Clarke XR80 is designed to heat large workshops as quickly and economically as possible. It can be fuelled with paraffin or diesel and produces 20.5kW of heat. A built-in turbo fan distributes the heat. The heater is highly portable too, sitting on a set of wheels, and fitted with a handle and stand.

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PRODUCTS. TEST 38

Mechanics’ gloves Craig Cheetham gives a handy guide to what you should wear to keep your fingers and thumbs protected.

G

loves are essential in any workshop, as they form an important part of a mechanic’s personal protective equipment (PPE).

Indeed, with increasingly stringent health and safety requirements around PPE, many workshops insist on their mechanics wearing gloves while at work. There are also specific gloves for specific jobs, from protecting your hands from cuts or impacts to preventing them from coming into contact with toxic fluids or electrical currents.

Many mechanics make do with disposable latex gloves for day-to-day tasks, but there are more heavy-duty tasks that require a much greater level of protection.

Here, we’ve brought together a selection of different multi-purpose gloves to evaluate, but which is the pair you should clamour to get your hands on – or should that be ‘in’?

HOW WE TESTED THEM THERE are different gloves for different occasions, so we tried to use each glove for the workshop task it was designed for. The conventional work gloves were used for jacking up a car, removing the wheel and dismantling the front brake assembly as if changing the pads – a simple workshop task for a multi-purpose glove.

With the impact gloves, we set to work on removing some accident-damaged body panels, which involved a hazardous combination of brute force and sharp edges, and for the first pair on test we used an iPhone-based car diagnostic app and a more heavy-duty Snap-on code reader to test touchscreen functionality.

36 | WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

Sealey MG803L – Mechanics’ Anti-Collision Gloves

HexArmor Elite Chrome Series 4026 - Mechanics’Gloves

How much: £31.74 (inc VAT) Where from: sealey.co.uk

How much: £44.23 (inc VAT) Where from: hexarmor.co.uk

Sealey’s more heavy-duty gloves are designed for mechanics who work with heavier workshop equipment. They feel quite bulky to wear, with cumbersome pads on the knuckle and thumb areas.

This clearly protects vulnerable extremities, but compared with the HexArmor glove we also had on test, they didn’t afford the same comfort of movement. The palm of the gloves is padded with an anti-slip synthetic leather material for extra grip, which reduces the vibration you may get from powered workshop tools such as impact wrenches, and they’re effective here.

As all-round workshop gloves, these will do an adequate job and they offer good safety protection, but they’re not as comfortable as others.

HexArmor gloves are relatively new to the UK and were originally developed for mechanics in the USA. These ones aren’t cheap but they have a lot going for them. They’re extremely comfortable, they’re protective in most high-impact areas, and the design of the impact zones is such that they don’t restrict any movement of your fingers or thumbs, meaning they’re suitable for precision jobs.

The gloves are also resistant to fluids, punctures and cuts, giving them excellent all-round safety credentials, while a high-visibility finish helps your hands be seen in a shared workshop area.

Indeed, the only real negative is the price – more than £40 seems quite a lot for a pair of workshop gloves, even if they are excellent.

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Draper 71111 – Performance Work Gloves How much: £19.18 (inc VAT) Where from: drapertools.com These are a great-value pair of gloves that are aimed very much at general-purpose use in the workshop.

Made from Spandex, they allow great freedom of movement, while the synthetic leather palm adds durability and grip. The knuckle area is also

Draper 71114 – Pro Performance Work Gloves How much: £26.38 (inc VAT) Where from: drapertools.com

padded, to help protect against bumps and impacts. We have one gripe, though: while being tested, the hookand-loop Velcro fixing around the wrist area left too much Velcro exposed, meaning the gloves kept catching on – and sticking to – our clothing. Otherwise, an extremely comfortable glove at a very good price, and probably the most versatile of the ones we had on test.

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Sealey MG798L – Light Palm Tactouch Mechanics’Gloves How Much: £23.10 (inc VAT) Where from: sealey.co.uk

These gloves from Draper are designed for precision working, and are close-fitting and less bulky than the more heavy-duty workshop gloves.

The Spandex material allows really good freedom of movement, as the gloves fit the shape of your hands very snugly. This also allows you to work with your fingertips – ideal for smaller components or precision tools.

The palm has a ‘spider web’ grip pattern, which affords good hands-on grip but with more movement and sensitivity than the bulkier gloves on test, again making them well suited to working on electrical systems and small components. Of all the gloves on test, these probably offer the best range of dexterity but also the least in the way of protection. For lightduty jobs, though, they’re excellent.

So much of a technician’s job requires the use of diagnostic equipment, a lot of which is touchscreen operated, and constantly removing gloves to run diagnostic checks and putting them back on again to carry out repairs can become tiresome.

These gloves, then, are great all-rounders. With touchscreen-friendly pads in the fingertips, they allow you to use devices as small as smartphones as well as beefier workshop diagnostic scanners.

And unlike some ‘touchscreen-friendly’ gloves, they operate just as efficiently as your fingers.

They’re also thin, lightweight and close-fitting, with grip pads on the fingers and palms, making them ideal for working in less accessible areas or where more precision is required. An excellent product and good value, too.

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PRODUCTS.

HOW WE TESTED THEM By far the most common job carried out using a jack is the removal and replacement of a wheel, so that’s what we did. Using two identical five-door family hatchbacks, we jacked our subject vehicles up with each jack in turn and changed a wheel.

In doing so, we were able to evaluate the ease of operation of each jack, how easy or difficult it was to position under the vehicle, its portability and its stability. Purchase cost and build quality also played a big part in our evaluation.

TEST 39

Trolley jacks Give us a lift! Craig Cheetham looks at some of the leading makes and models available.

A

good, strong jack is an essential component in any workshop, especially where there is limited access to ramps.

And it’s the trolley jack that’s by far the most versatile piece of lifting equipment – simple to use, portable and sturdy. Something that no mechanic would willingly be without.

There are hundreds of different makes and models of trolley jack on the market, ranging from cheap budget ones through to heavy-duty jacks that are capable of lifting commercial vehicles – so the choice of which one suits your working environment best will largely depend on the type of work you do, and on what types of vehicle.

However, for the purposes of this test, we looked at what would be the best all-rounder in an average car workshop, such as a town or village garage.

The jacks we assessed were a varied selection, chosen from a wide price range to suit all budgets.

38 | WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

Sealey 2001LEHV – 2-tonne Low Entry Rocket Lift Hi-Vis

Sealey 2750LE – 2.75-tonne Low Entry Rocket Lift

How Much: £203.94 (inc VAT) Where from: sealey.co.uk

How much: £272.34 (inc VAT) Where from: sealey.co.uk

With its bright green paint scheme, this jack is very easily seen on the workshop floor, making it the ideal choice for a busy workshop or one where there is access on-site for people who aren’t technicians.

It’s a sturdy piece of kit, too, weighing in at 34kg.

It’s ‘low-entry’ design means it will cope with the majority of low-slung performance cars, although the maximum chassis height of 150mm does preclude it from being used on smaller SUVs. It’s a pleasure to use, though, with just six full pumps between its lowest and highest setting making it very easy to get a car into the air.

Indeed, the speed with which it can be used would make it ideal for a roadside breakdown operator. The wide, padded saddle is a further bonus.

The most expensive jack we had on test was also the beefiest, with a 2.75-tonne weight limit making it suitable for large cars.

Indeed, when used on our test subject – a Rover 45 – it threatened to work more like a trebuchet, such was the speed with which it lifted the car off the ground.

You can tell this is a tool designed for professionals by the sheer sturdiness of it – of all the jacks on test it felt the most stable once the car was raised, while its wide saddle also helped spread the pressure around the car’s jacking point.

Aside from the price, which would put it beyond the reach of most DIYers anyway, the 2750LE’s biggest bugbear is its weight – at 43kg, it’s extremely heavy.

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Sealey 1020LE – 2-tonne Low Entry Trolley Jack

Draper TJ3HD/C – 3-tonne Twin Piston Trolley Jack

How Much: £71.94 (inc VAT) Where from: sealey.co.uk

How much: £111.00 (inc VAT) Where from: drapertools.com

Low-entry jacks are often at the higher end of the price spectrum, so Sealey’s 1020LE is onto a winner in terms of affordability.

At 12.6kg, it’s also one of the lightest jacks we had on test, making it extremely portable. Indeed, its versatility makes it ideal for the mobile mechanic or roadside operator. Not only is it an easy jack to transport, but it will also get underneath most cars.

On the downside, the 380mm maximum saddle height is the lowest one here, while the saddle itself is also small and has limited padding, so you have to position it very carefully to avoid causing damage to the underside of a car.

Despite that, it’s a very easy jack to use, feels well made, and is very stable for its limited size.

Draper’s 3 Tonne Twin Piston trolley jack is one of the most compact heavy-duty jacks on the market, and – as a result – is probably one of the best for those who operate mobile workshops or roadside rescue.

There are few vehicles beyond its weight limit, and despite its relatively compact size, it still weighs 30kg, meaning it feels stable when positioned under the car. The twin piston design also means it goes up and down more quickly than most compact jacks.

However, its lifting range is limited at 133-465mm and it is much more demanding to lug about than the Sealey 1020LE, so is only really of benefit if you need to work on bigger vehicles.

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Draper Expert TJ2-PRO-C – 2tonne Heavy Duty Trolley Jack How much: £157.14 (inc VAT) Where from: drapertools.com For the money, this is an excellent jack, benefiting from a low, wide chassis (at 70mm, the lowest ‘low entry’ jack on test). It feels stable in operation and reaches its full height in just seven pumps – not as quickly as the two Sealey low-entry jacks, but still requiring a minimum of effort or fuss.

It has a wide, padded saddle that makes it easy to position under a vehicle, while the saddle itself is white, making it easier to see once beneath the car.

It also has a foam pad around the lower part of the handle, helping protect the sills and lower bodywork of cars being worked on.

Indeed, our only criticism is that, while the grey paint scheme looks smart, it does make it difficult to see in a dark, grey-floored workshop.

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Clarke CTJ2L 7610260 – 2-tonne Long DIY Trolley Jack How much: £33.12 (inc VAT) Where from: clarketooling.co.uk This was the cheapest jack in our test by quite some margin, and is targeted at the DIY enthusiast.

It certainly does the job, although it requires removal of the handle and a separate valve in order to be raised and lowered, adding time to any job. With the car on smooth concrete, there was also a little bit too much

free movement from the jack’s chassis to make it feel fully stable. Of course, working under a car requires supplementary support, but not a simple wheel change.

If you have limited workspace and need a jack that doesn’t cost much, and will lift most vehicles, then this one ticks the boxes. It’s also pretty affordable. But there are better jacks out there, including from Clarke itself.

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SUPPLIERS GUIDE.

IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A WORKSHOP SUPPLIER, YOU CAN FIND THE DETAILS OF SELECTED COMPANIES HERE

Welcome to your essential guide to leading suppliers Aftersales Software

WORKSHOP Magazine is proud to publish the contact details of some of the key suppliers of products and services to the automotive repair industry – from components and parts providers to companies specialising in garage equipment, web design, online solutions and even legal advice for when a transaction goes sour.

Our guide to the industry’s must-have partners follows on from the success of a similar resource in our sister publication, Car Dealer Magazine.

This automotive repair, service and maintenance industry version will become just as indispensable.

Keep an eye on this space each month as we include more and more leading suppliers.

Diagnostic Equipment

Approved Schemes Approved Dealer

Nebula Systems

eDynamix

RAC Approved Dealer Network

Garage Equipment

Garage Equipment

Garage Equipment

Butts of Bawtry

GEMCO

Pro-Align

Garage Equipment

Garage Management Software

Legal & Compliance

Straightset

Dragon2000

Lawgistics

Parts Suppliers

Parts Suppliers

Trade Bodies

Blue Print

Febi Bilstein

IGA

W: edynamix.com T: 0845 413 0000 E: enquiries@edynamix.com Info: eDynamix offers web-based applications providing a connected and simple-to-use platform in which dealers can manage a customer throughout the service lifecycle, including service plans, electronic vehicle health check, repair and finance plans, proactive follow-up, online bookings, MOT cleanse, VIDEO1st, aftersales surveys, and automated confirmations and reminders.

W: buttsequipment.com T: 01302 710868 E: info@buttsequipment.com Info: Butts of Bawtry is literally a ONE STOP SHOP for the garage or workshop. Offering a comprehensive range of Quality Garage Equipment from leading manufacturers, backed up by our team of trained and certified service and repair engineers. From a trolley jack to a complete workshop installation, Butts have the answer.

W: straightset.co.uk T: 01909 480055 E: paul.bates@straightset.co.uk Info: Straightset is the UK’s leading independent garage equipment company, providing best-in-class design, supply, installation and service of car and commercial workshops for nearly 30 years. We carry a vast range of quality equipment carefully sourced from top manufacturers within the EU and US and offer one of the most comprehensive aftersales services in the market.

W: blue-print.co.uk T: 01622 833007 E: adl-blueprint.bpic@bilsteingroup.com Info: As part of the Bilstein Group, Blue Print supplies OEmatching quality vehicle components, with strong Asian and American coverage. With more than 23,000 different parts in its range, from braking and clutch components to filtration, Blue Print covers a huge portion of the vehicle parc. Want to get it right first time? Think Blue Print.

W: rac.co.uk/getapproved T: 0330 159 1111 E: dealernetwork@rac.co.uk Info: Being authorised to use the RAC name as a badge of quality creates strong consumer confidence and increases profitability.

As an RAC Approved Dealer, you have access to one of the UK’s most respected motoring brands. There’s a range of RAC-backed products and services at your disposal, as well as a customer reach of more than 8 million RAC members to promote your dealership.

W: gemco.co.uk T: 01604 828500 E: sales@gemco.co.uk Info: GEMCO is the UK market leader and your one-stop shop for the supply, delivery, installation, training, calibration and maintenance of garage equipment. With the largest comprehensive range of equipment brands available for both car and commercial vehicle workshops, GEMCO provides top-quality garage equipment products and services to car and commercial vehicle workshops.

W: dragon2000.co.uk T: 01327 222 333 E: sales@dragon2000.co.uk Info: Dragon2000 supplies garages and car dealers with a multiaward winning Dealer Management System, time and efficiency monitoring and integrated websites for online service bookings.

Includes free APPraise mobile app for all users – for sending personalised VHC images & videos to customers’ phones to help increase upsold work and customer trust.

W: febi.com T: 01977 691100 E: enquiries@febiuk.co.uk Info: As part of the Bilstein Group, Febi Bilstein supplies a range of more than 25,000 different articles for all popular European vehicle models. From steering and suspension to rubber, metal and electrical, Febi Bilstein provides OE-matching quality components with first-time fitment and long service life. For quality, choose Febi Bilstein.

W: nebulasystems.com T: 01280 816333 E: sales@nebulasystems.com Info: Nebula Systems specialises in the development of advanced technologies for the automotive and future mobility industries.

We make vehicle data and systems more accessible so that a vehicle’s health, status and utilisation can be monitored, analysed, diagnosed and maintained, faster and more effectively, anytime and anywhere.

W: pro-align.co.uk T: 01327 323007 E: enquiries@pro-align.co.uk Info: Dedicated wheel alignment specialists, supplying, supporting and servicing the world-leading Hunter brand nationwide: Hunter aligners – Fast, accurate, reliable, unlocking business opportunities, delivering major income stream and rapid ROI Road Force balancer – A new service very few workshops deliver Tyre changers – Easy service perfection

W: lawgistics.co.uk T: 01480 445500 E: sales@lawgistics.co.uk Info: The motor trade’s leading legal firm, giving help and advice to our members and the industry in general. Passionate about fairness under the law. Our legal team are there to protect your interests.

Not anti consumer, just pro trader. Don’t miss our advice, which is published every month in Workshop Magazine. See pages 30 and 31 for The Judge’s contribution to this month’s issue.

W: IndependentGarageAssociation.co.uk T: 0845 305 4230 E: enquiries@rmif.co.uk Info: The Independent Garage Association is the largest and most prominent representative body in the independent garage sector. We are the voice of the industry in matters arising in UK and EU Government, and we help independent garages to thrive in all aspects of their business by offering advice, information and services.

TO HAVE YOUR DETAILS INCLUDED HERE CALL 023 9252 2434 AND ASK FOR WORKSHOP SUPPLIERS GUIDE LISTINGS 40 | WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

FOCUS ON

SNAP-ON

DIAGNOSING ISSUES WITH AIR CONDITIONING SNAP-ON E: TECHSALES.UK@SNAPON.COM W: HTTP: // DIAGNOSTICS.SNAPON.CO.UK OVER the last couple of decades, vehicle manufacturers have pushed boundaries to improve occupant safety and comfort. They have given us many innovations to enhance our driving experience while, at the same time, making vehicles safer.

One tool that has evolved over many years is air conditioning, which now forms part of a vehicle’s active safety system.

Many cars now have air conditioning at the very least, or even climate control: systems that contain high- and lowpressure sides, compressors, condensers, evaporators and refrigerant, along with many more components.

Most comfort systems now have some form of diagnostic capabilities, be they codes only, codes and data, or actuators.

When automatic air conditioning is working correctly, all of the components listed as actuators will be commanded by the control module to perform a given task.

However, when a system is not working as it should do, diagnosing automatic air conditioning is a difficult task.

Using a diagnostic tool to actuate many of the components fitted in the system – such as the blend motors, blower, hot and cold taps and other parts – is a must.

These components are usually in very hard-to-reach places at the rear of the dashboard, making access incredibly difficult and challenging.

Using the Snap-on VERUS Edge scan tool can aid you in the actuator test – you may visibly or audibly note the component moving during the given actuation period.

While running such actuators on the VERUS Edge, it may not be possible to see or hear the actuation events, but one of the tool’s stand-out features is the ability to view the oscilloscope while using the scanner.

This will assist you in diagnosing the automatic air conditioning system, running the actuator and viewing the scope monitoring the signal wire to a given component. The signal wire could be a simple PWM (pulse width modulation) or LIN (local interconnecting network).

That said, before we rush in with the diagnostic tools, we need to make sure that the basics have been checked first – such as ensuring that the mechanical system is good, visually inspecting the system, checking the correct amount of refrigerant and PAG oil, referring to technical data and using the air conditioning service station.

This can all be achieved easily and safely.

It’s important to keep air conditioning in good working order WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

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FOCUS ON

CATACLEAN

CATACLEAN: JUST ADD PEACE OF MIND BY POURING CATACLEAN

E: INFO@CATACLEAN.COM W: CATACLEAN.COM T: 0800 553 5395

JUST like our bodies, our cars’ lungs (the air intake system and exhaust system) and circulatory systems (the fuel delivery and monitoring system) need a good clear-out.

Unlike our bodies, however, the cars’ systems are easily dealt with, specifically taking advantage of the scientifically proven efficiency of Cataclean fuel additives, conveniently packaged in a user-friendly bottle.

Cataclean has specific products for diesel, petrol, and hybrid-powered vehicles and even motorcycles (excluding two-stroke engines).

The product works by dissolving and removing built-up carbon deposits from injectors, combustion chamber valves, ports and all associated components. In simple terms, it regenerates the areas from the fuel tank to the tail pipe, helping to clean and maintain catalytic converters and DPFs. This contributes to restoring the complete system back to factory specifications, allowing the engine to breathe more freely and produce more power efficiently.

Providing a considerably more affordable and quicker alternative to expensive mechanical fuelcleaning systems, Cataclean products can be used by automotive service and Graham Fraser MOT stations as a costeffective solution in both emergency and preventative terms, and by reducing emissions by as much as 60 per cent, Cataclean may play a significant part in enabling vehicles to pass their MOT test.

Increased performance, torque, BHP and improved miles per gallon (up to 10 per cent in many cases) are other benefits, alongside helping the environment by allowing the engine to operate at the factory-designed emission output.

‘Choked’, polluting engines generally struggle to provide the performance required.

Cataclean products work by simply adding the solution to a part-filled tank of fuel (25 per cent full) and running the engine as per supplied instructions. For best results, the product should be used three to four times a year.

This is a cost-effective solution to smoky exhaust output and emissions, removing the need to replace expensive catalytic converters and avoiding larger garage bills.

Most motor factors stock Cataclean and the RAC carries Cataclean in all its fleet vehicles to help tackle breakdowns caused by clogged DPFs. Simply put, as Cataclean corporate development director Graham Fraser says: ‘Pour, start, run and enjoy the benefits provided by the sensible use of Cataclean, safe in the knowledge that a vehicle’s reduced emissions and clean bill of health reflect well on one’s interaction with one’s customers.’

42 | WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

“

Pour, start, run and enjoy the benefits provided by the sensible use of Cataclean.

GRAHAM FRASER

FOCUS ON

BOC

MEETING ALL OF YOUR GAS NEEDS E: SPECIALPRODUCTS@BOC.COM W: BOCONLINE.CO.UK T: 0800 02 0800

BOC is a long-established supplier to the automotive sector, providing essential cutting and welding needs for every garage.

Our dedicated trucks can deliver cutting and welding gases, along with nitrogen for leak testing, to workshops and they can also deliver supplies of R1234YF – the next-generation refrigerant that every garage will require as the UK car pool of existing R134a automotive air conditioning systems declines over the next five to 10 years.

BOC has set up national stocks of R1234YF to allow for the convenient and fast replenishment of the recharge packages as and when a workshop needs them. We are expecting significant growth over the next few years as further dealerships and workshops add the R1234YF air conditioning service option to their range of services. Industry sources suggest that

only 30 per cent of the industry is currently able to offer R1234YF aircon servicing.

BOC has worked closely with Chemours, the manufacturer of R1234YF, to ensure this new supply meets the needs of the automotive aftercare industry.

BOC now also offers leak detection gases, including the ultra-sensitive 5%H2/N2 mix. This gas mixture allows even smaller leaks to be found during any air conditioning system repair work, and helps ensure a ‘one fix’ solution for the customer.

Next year, the European industry will see a 30 per cent reduction in the importation of F gases, such as R134a, as part of the Europe-wide phasing out of these refrigerants. BOC maintains stocks of this gas for its customers, but as the phase-down occurs over the next few years, it is likely that supplies of R134a will become more challenging.

BOC trucks will be delivering more and more R1234YF

Authorized Distributor of Opteon , a Brand of The Chemours Company TM

Stocks of Opteon™ R1234YF available nationally from BOC Opteon™ YF (R1234YF) combines environmental benefits with excellent cooling performance, helping the automotive industry to meet legislation 2006/40/EC. BOC is now offering the full range of refrigerant, hydrogen/nitrogen leak testing gases needed for any vehicle, R134a, R1234YF and even CO₂.

Find out why Opteon YF is the industry‘s low GWP refrigerant gas of choice at: www.BOConline.co.uk/opteonyf

ilable ow ava n F Y 4 R123

Opteon™ and the Opteon Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of The Chemours Company. © 2017 The Chemours Company.

BOC Limited registered office, The Priestley Centre, 10 Priestley Road, Surrey Research Park, Guildford, GU2 7XY, England. Number 337663 – English Register. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

The stripe symbol and the letters BOC are registered trade marks. Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited. © BOC Limited 2017

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| 43

OUR FLEET.

Ford Fiesta XR2 An MOT pass despite a dangerous fuel tank? James is left a bit puzzled.

T

he Fiesta, ah, the Fiesta. How I remember the joys of owning it.

I loved the strange musty smell of the ’80s, the terrible crackly radio that was permanently tuned to Radio 5 Live and mostly inaudible, and the ‘heater’ that could best be described as asthmatic, at worst in urgent need of CPR. Why the reminiscing? Well, that’s because the last time I saw it was way back in June – when I packed off Matt The Mechanic as he took it back to his garage with the distinct smell of unburnt petrol hanging in the air behind him as he kangarooed away.

Since then, I’ve had infrequent updates, sort of like a long-lost son who’s left these shores and is travelling the world, occasionally briefing me on his adventures via postcard or carrier pigeon.

To be fair to MTM, I did tell him there was no urgent need to see it again. I’d fancied taking it to Goodwood back in July but was told there was absolutely no chance of that happening, so I promptly forgot the car existed again.

Well, I did until Rebecca asked me to write an update for this esteemed publication.

Obviously, I missed the first deadline – I was busy washing my hair, drinking tea or doing whatever else I thought more important so as to avoid writing this. But then she put on her stern face, so I decided it was at least time to find out where the red thing was.

The mystery was sort of solved for me. I popped along with my other red car to see MTM’s dad, who runs a different garage, and was collared to pay my outstanding invoices. Firstly, there was the Peugeot bill to settle – that came to a wallet-punching £628.93. I paid that one and was promptly handed another that came with some good news, and some bad news.

The good news was that the XR2 had passed its MOT – albeit with a few advisories. By a few, I mean double-digit in number. Windscreen chips, poor wiper blades and ‘various patches of

James and the Fiesta haven’t been reunited – but he has been catching up on its progress

Model: Ford Fiesta XR2 Owned by: James Baggott Engine: 1.6-litre, petrol Bought for: £1,200 Mileage: 98,700 Money spent this month: £45 Highlight of this month: The fact that E721 has passed its MOT! corrosion’ could be sort of overlooked. Let’s face it, the old girl is rather neglected.

The play in the front suspension bushes, perished brake hose and slight play in the rear wheel bearings probably need looking at soon if I want to avoid some face time with a tree, but those issues will more than likely be forgotten too.

But there was one advisory that was of particular note – so much so it had pretty stars around it and was underlined. This must be serious. ‘Fuel tank heavily corroded,’ it said.

‘*DANGEROUS*’, it screamed afterwards. Quite why this had been relegated to point seven of 14 confused me – it seemed to me it was the sort of thing that should be advisory number one, but then, as you know, I’m no mechanic.

Quite how a heavily corroded fuel tank that was possibly leaking the explosive stuff could pass an MOT is another question but then, like the next man, I’m not averse to the odd fireball – you only have to see my attempts at barbecuing food for testament to that.

So, what’s happening now? Well, as I’m not particularly keen on the smell of petrol, and much as diving out of an exploding car would burnish my yet-to-be-obtained daredevil credentials, I think for now I’ll let MTM try to find a replacement fuel tank on eBay. I’m sure E721, its crackly news updates and strong funk of 1987 and I will be reunited at some stage – I’m just not holding my breath.

OUR WHEELS...

WE LOVE CARS AT WORKSHOP AND HERE’S THE PROOF. WE’VE WRITTEN ABOUT THEM AND EVERYTHING...

44 | WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

FORD FIESTA XR2

VW TYPE 3 FASTBACK

NISSAN ELGRAND

FORD THUNDERBIRD

by James Baggott Chief executive, @CarDealerEd

by Rebecca Chaplin Head of editorial, @believebecca

by Andy Entwistle Blackball Media MD, @CarDealerAndy

by Rebecca Chaplin Head of editorial, @believebecca

As James reports above, the car has passed its MOT, but with the fuel tank pretty badly corroded it’s still in the hands of Matt the Mechanic.

With its MOT test booked in and things seemingly going well, sadly there was no life in the battery when Becca tried to drop the car off.

This month’s job was to improve the yellowing headlamps. A couple of hours with some 1500 wet and dry plus cutting paste has done the trick.

Becca has been busy sourcing more parts lately. With new MOT rules coming into play, at least she won’t be facing any pain on that front!

Subaru Legacy GT-B

Nissan 200SX

Jon uses up a lot of time (and quite a bit of elbow grease) cleaning his car

With a special date in the diary, Darren decides to enlist the services of a detailer

I

f there’s one thing the Japanese do well (there’s probably a few things, in fairness) it’s looking after their cars. Maybe some of it has to do with the fearsome biennial ‘Shaken’ inspection: effectively an MOT cranked up to 11.

I think there’s more to it than that, though.

Generally speaking, the Japanese seem to take care of things a little bit better than we do.

That doesn’t mean there’s no room for improvement though, so this month I thought I’d try some obsessive car cleaning – and goodness me, it’s time-consuming.

First comes a pressure wash with plain old water to remove any loose debris – that’s 10 minutes gone. Next step is a liberal spraying with thick, sud-heavy snow foam designed to strip away grease and ‘traffic film’, whatever that is – another 15 minutes disappear. Then it’s time to actually get the bucket and sponge out.

Except it’s not a sponge but a lambswool mitt, and for mitt-rinsing purposes there are two buckets rather than one. That’s before we reach the really obsessive bits of course – the four hours of ‘decontamination’ by rubbing a glorified lump of Plasticine across each panel, the three hours of buffing away at the paint with a rotary polisher, and the hour of ‘waxing’ it all with a magic wax that isn’t actually wax.

Was it worth that level of effort? Absolutely not.

But on the upside, it’s a lot shinier than before.

Model: Subaru Legacy GT-B Blitzen Owned by: Jon Reay Engine: 2.0-litre twin-turbo petrol Bought for: $460 + shipping + tax (£2,300-ish total) Mileage: 82,014 Money spent this month: £161.55 on needless cleaning gear Highlight of the month: Getting the Subaru just that little bit closer to looking presentable.

SUBARU LEGACY GT-B

Gleaming in the early autumn sun, Darren’s car has been professionally detailed

W

hat with the ongoing frustration that is the perennial misfire, the sensible thing for me this month would have been to find an expert and book the car in to get it sorted.

However, I have an aversion to spending money and all that sounds rather expensive, so a serious bout of procrastination has set in. I do desperately want to get it looked at before I take it off the road for the winter, but with weekends running out, I really need to get my act together.

So, taking everything into account, you won’t be surprised to learn that I’ve paid the misfire no attention and instead have treated the paintwork to some professional detailing.

You see, the car was granted access to Goodwood’s Japanese car-themed Breakfast Club on October 1. It doesn’t need the engine working smoothly, it just needs to sit and look pretty. Procrastination justified.

Ted Welford, who is one of the apprentices at Workshop Towers, has a side business in car detailing, and after stalking his Instagram page to keep an eye on his work, I decided to get the 200SX’s paint sorted.

I’m no expert, but even I could see that while it looked great from a distance, it was superswirly up close. When I bought it earlier this year, I was told that it hadn’t long had a respray,

BMW 330D TOURING

MG METRO TURBO

but Ted informed me ‘it certainly didn’t look like that, judging by those swirls’. Shots fired.

When he talked about putting it through a full ‘decontamination’ I knew it must be pretty rough, and he confirmed as such by saying it needed a thorough going-over with a clay bar before being polished. This removes contaminants such as tree sap and tar from the paint, which normal washing doesn’t get.

The paint was also a bit faded, so he used a variety of polishes to get rid of most of the swirls – a machine polish will be needed to get the rest of them, but to be honest I don’t think it really needs it.

The first time I set my eyes on the car once Ted was finished, I was bowled over. It looked clean before, but now it looks as good as new.

I’m so glad I spent the money to get it detailed properly. I was even more excited about turning up to Sushi Sunday afterwards!

Model: Nissan 200SX Owned by: Darren Cassey Engine: Turbocharged 1.8-litre inline-four Bought for: £3,750 Mileage: 133,802 Money spent this month: £50 Highlight of the month: Seeing the car looking better than ever.

NISSAN 200SX

PEUGEOT 205 GTi

by Jon Reay Multimedia manager, @JonReay

by Jack Evans Features editor, @jackrober

by Christian Tilbury Staff writer, @Christilbury1

by Darren Cassey Senior staff writer, @DCassey

by James Baggott Chief executive, @CarDealerEd

Thorough cleaning is a theme for this month’s reports – and Jon didn’t want to be left out, as he relates to us above.

Belfort’s been sitting idle for a little too long now. This is doing wonders for keeping the mileage down, but it’s not good for the mechanicals.

Christian’s shelled out more than 700 sheets and the Metro’s still not running right, a tired fuel pump being the main suspect.

The JDM unicorn is looking better than ever – but the misfire is a problem for a future pay packet, Darren’s decided.

The Peugeot is back and James has really been enjoying it – so much so that he’s even had it detailed.

More on that next month.

WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

| 45

OUR KEV.

OUR MAN ON THE INSIDE SPILLS THE BEANS ON THE GARAGE BUSINESS...

Government’s MOT move just doesn’t make sense to me I may, of course, be slightly biased given that I’m an MOT tester, but I happen to believe that the annual roadworthiness inspection is a very important thing.

Most people agree, too – after all, if you’re driving a car that’s capable of having a big accident, then you want to take all reasonable steps to ensure that doesn’t happen.

Knowing that your tyres are safe, your lights are working and – more importantly – your suspension isn’t about to collapse or your wheels fall off lends peace of mind.

And that’s why I’m more than a bit baffled by the government’s move to scrap the MOT test for cars over 40 years old. Admittedly, cars of this age are generally owned by enthusiasts, and most are kept in tip-top condition. But not everyone who drives a classic car is a mechanic.

Many people love the idea of a classic sports car to drive on hot, sunny days, but they prefer to leave the mucky stuff to the experts.

Yet the government has gone ahead and implemented the new rule, meaning more than 250,000 cars will now be exempt from having to have an MOT test.

By far the most startling thing here, though, is that the powers-that-be arrived at such a consensus after an open public consultation. When the consultation period closed, 71 per cent of those who responded were against the proposal. Yes – more than seven out of 10 people said it was a daft idea, but Whitehall went ahead regardless.

And apart from reducing the number of tests that need to be carried out (and taking work away from test centres), I can see no tangible benefit whatsoever.

The government said the main reason behind the decision was that modern cars were more complex and various items that need to be tested (mostly computer-controlled systems) were simply not found on older vehicles, which made the test irrelevant.

Yet by contrast, things that tend to affect older cars, such as worn kingpins, rotten sills and wornout steering boxes, rarely affect new cars. Indeed, one of the proposals under the consultation was a simplified, yet still mandatory, test to examine all of the essential safety components on an older vehicle. An eminently sensible idea, and one that most of those who responded to the consultation believed to be the most logical approach.

After all, even if a car is kept in a heated garage and is loved and cherished by its owner, rubber can still perish, metal can still corrode and plastics can still warp.

There will, of course, be some classic car enthusiasts who will embrace the change. These are the people I’m worried about. They may have a nice, shiny, immaculate car on the surface, but they’re also the kind of people who will breathe a sigh of relief that they no longer have to worry about an unexpected MOT bill for the bits they can’t polish. Meanwhile, those who genuinely look after their cars never have to worry about that in the first place, as they know their own vehicles inside out.

Indeed, the £40 or so they’ll pay for the test is a small expense, and one that could possibly throw up something they’re genuinely unaware of that could, ultimately, save them from having an accident.

There is no excuse for using an unroadworthy car on the road. The MOT test is a means of ensuring that the vast majority of cars in Britain are safe. And while those over 40 years old represent a relatively small proportion of the total number, there are still a quarter of a million of them.

That’s a quarter of a million cars that will never be subject to a mandatory inspection to prove they’re in a condition where they can be safely used on the road – and in the eyes of an experienced MOT tester who has seen the problems apparent with ancient tyres, brake materials and extensive body corrosion, that really does frighten me.

This is not a matter of cutting down on regulation, red tape and process as the government likes to present it. It could, very easily, become a matter of life and death.

WHO IS OUR KEV? If we told you, we’d have to kill you... What we can say is he’s been around for longer than he cares to remember and has a fund of stories to tell...

46 | WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

”

There will, of course, be some classic car enthusiasts who will embrace the change. These are the people I’m worried about.

q Most cars over 40 years old are kept in tip-top condition, like this one – but not all of them are!

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